HealthCert Blog

A study sought to determine the impact of dupilumab on rates of skin and other infections in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is characterised by skin barrier defects, T helper type 2 cell activation, and increased risk for cutaneous and extracutaneous infections. In clinical trials, dupilumab appeared to decrease rates of skin infections in atopic dermatitis.

Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of dupilumab for atopic dermatitis. Eight randomised controlled trials with 2,706 participants were included, with follow-up time ranging from four to 52 weeks.

Meta-analysis including all dosing schedules and follow-up times showed a relative risk of skin infection of 0.54 and an odds ratio of eczema herpeticum of 0.34 for dupilumab compared with placebo. No significant association was found for dupilumab with overall herpes virus infections and overall infections.

The study concluded that dupilumab is associated with a decreased incidence of skin infections and eczema herpeticum in adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Researchers stated that the mechanism underlying this association is uncertain but is likely related to improvement in atopic dermatitis severity.

Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin 4 and interleukin 13, appears to significantly decrease the risk for skin infections and eczema herpeticum in adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.

Read more recent research on atopic dermatitis.

Source:
Risk of infection in patients with atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Fleming, Patrick et al. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology , Volume 78 , Issue 1 , 62 – 69.e1

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