Atopic Dermatitis

Torrelo and colleagues described the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in combination with topical corticosteroids in pediatric patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. At the high dose of 4 mg daily, the IGA success rate was about 40%, similar to what we expect for adults treated with dupilumab and less than what we might expect with upadacitinib.

Studies have already been done on efficacy and safety of baricitinib in adults with atopic dermatitis. But baricitinib is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with severe alopecia areata and is not currently indicated as a treatment for anyone with atopic dermatitis, at least not in the United States. At this time, I think the most useful aspect of Torrelo and colleagues' findings is being able to tell our adult patients with alopecia areata that baricitinib was safe enough that they could test it in children as young as 2 years old with eczema.

Perälä and colleagues' report comparing topical tacrolimus and topical corticosteroids (1% hydrocortisone acetate or, if needed, 0.1% hydrocortisone butyrate ointment) in young children with atopic dermatitis is fascinating. They saw patients back at 1 week and followed them for 3 years. In just 1 week, both groups had massive and similar improvement in their atopic dermatitis, and that improvement continued throughout the study. Here are some take-home points:

• Atopic dermatitis responds rapidly to low-to-medium–strength topical steroids.
• Bringing patients back at 1 week may have been a critical aspect of this study, as adherence to topicals can be abysmal; bringing patients back at 1 week probably enables them to use their treatment much better than they would otherwise.
• If we need a nonsteroidal topical, we have an excellent one available at low cost in the form of topical tacrolimus.

Perälä and colleagues also did this study to see whether good treatment of atopic dermatitis in these young children would have long-term benefits on atopic airway issues. Because the researchers didn't have a placebo group (and considered it unethical to have one), we cannot tell whether the topical treatment provided any benefit in that regard.

Yamamoto-Hanada and colleaguesexamined whether "enhanced" topical steroid treatment would prevent food allergy in children with eczema compared with standard topical steroid treatment. Perhaps a better word than "enhanced" would be "aggressive." The enhanced treatment entailed having infants receive alclometasone dipropionate for the whole face and betamethasone valerate for the whole body except face and scalp. While the researchers saw a reduction in egg allergy (from roughly 40% to 30%), they also saw reduced body weight and height. A key take-home message is that with extensive use of topical steroids, we can see systemic effects.

Torrelo and colleagues described the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in combination with topical corticosteroids in pediatric patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. At the high dose of 4 mg daily, the IGA success rate was about 40%, similar to what we expect for adults treated with dupilumab and less than what we might expect with upadacitinib.

Studies have already been done on efficacy and safety of baricitinib in adults with atopic dermatitis. But baricitinib is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with severe alopecia areata and is not currently indicated as a treatment for anyone with atopic dermatitis, at least not in the United States. At this time, I think the most useful aspect of Torrelo and colleagues' findings is being able to tell our adult patients with alopecia areata that baricitinib was safe enough that they could test it in children as young as 2 years old with eczema.

Perälä and colleagues' report comparing topical tacrolimus and topical corticosteroids (1% hydrocortisone acetate or, if needed, 0.1% hydrocortisone butyrate ointment) in young children with atopic dermatitis is fascinating. They saw patients back at 1 week and followed them for 3 years. In just 1 week, both groups had massive and similar improvement in their atopic dermatitis, and that improvement continued throughout the study. Here are some take-home points:

• Atopic dermatitis responds rapidly to low-to-medium–strength topical steroids.
• Bringing patients back at 1 week may have been a critical aspect of this study, as adherence to topicals can be abysmal; bringing patients back at 1 week probably enables them to use their treatment much better than they would otherwise.
• If we need a nonsteroidal topical, we have an excellent one available at low cost in the form of topical tacrolimus.

Perälä and colleagues also did this study to see whether good treatment of atopic dermatitis in these young children would have long-term benefits on atopic airway issues. Because the researchers didn't have a placebo group (and considered it unethical to have one), we cannot tell whether the topical treatment provided any benefit in that regard.

Yamamoto-Hanada and colleaguesexamined whether "enhanced" topical steroid treatment would prevent food allergy in children with eczema compared with standard topical steroid treatment. Perhaps a better word than "enhanced" would be "aggressive." The enhanced treatment entailed having infants receive alclometasone dipropionate for the whole face and betamethasone valerate for the whole body except face and scalp. While the researchers saw a reduction in egg allergy (from roughly 40% to 30%), they also saw reduced body weight and height. A key take-home message is that with extensive use of topical steroids, we can see systemic effects.

Torrelo and colleagues described the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in combination with topical corticosteroids in pediatric patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. At the high dose of 4 mg daily, the IGA success rate was about 40%, similar to what we expect for adults treated with dupilumab and less than what we might expect with upadacitinib.

Studies have already been done on efficacy and safety of baricitinib in adults with atopic dermatitis. But baricitinib is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with severe alopecia areata and is not currently indicated as a treatment for anyone with atopic dermatitis, at least not in the United States. At this time, I think the most useful aspect of Torrelo and colleagues' findings is being able to tell our adult patients with alopecia areata that baricitinib was safe enough that they could test it in children as young as 2 years old with eczema.

Perälä and colleagues' report comparing topical tacrolimus and topical corticosteroids (1% hydrocortisone acetate or, if needed, 0.1% hydrocortisone butyrate ointment) in young children with atopic dermatitis is fascinating. They saw patients back at 1 week and followed them for 3 years. In just 1 week, both groups had massive and similar improvement in their atopic dermatitis, and that improvement continued throughout the study. Here are some take-home points:

• Atopic dermatitis responds rapidly to low-to-medium–strength topical steroids.
• Bringing patients back at 1 week may have been a critical aspect of this study, as adherence to topicals can be abysmal; bringing patients back at 1 week probably enables them to use their treatment much better than they would otherwise.
• If we need a nonsteroidal topical, we have an excellent one available at low cost in the form of topical tacrolimus.

Perälä and colleagues also did this study to see whether good treatment of atopic dermatitis in these young children would have long-term benefits on atopic airway issues. Because the researchers didn't have a placebo group (and considered it unethical to have one), we cannot tell whether the topical treatment provided any benefit in that regard.

Yamamoto-Hanada and colleaguesexamined whether "enhanced" topical steroid treatment would prevent food allergy in children with eczema compared with standard topical steroid treatment. Perhaps a better word than "enhanced" would be "aggressive." The enhanced treatment entailed having infants receive alclometasone dipropionate for the whole face and betamethasone valerate for the whole body except face and scalp. While the researchers saw a reduction in egg allergy (from roughly 40% to 30%), they also saw reduced body weight and height. A key take-home message is that with extensive use of topical steroids, we can see systemic effects.

The Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor upadacitinib is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for adolescents with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD), an analysis of three clinical trials reports.

Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with refractory, moderate to severe AD, in January 2022. This study analyzed the adolescent data in three double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 randomized clinical trials, which included adults and 552 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age with moderate to severe AD in more than 20 countries in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Oceania, and the Asia-Pacific region from July 2018 through December 2020.

In the studies, “treatment of moderate to severe AD in adolescents with upadacitinib was effective and generally well tolerated, with an overall efficacy and safety profile similar to that observed in adults, and patient-reported outcomes indicated an overall better health-related quality of life compared with placebo,” lead study author Amy S. Paller, MD, chair of the department of dermatology and professor of dermatology and pediatrics, at Northwestern University, Chicago, and her colleagues write in JAMA Dermatology.

Adolescents in the three studies – Measure Up 1, Measure Up 2, and AD Up – received once-daily oral upadacitinib 15 mg, 30 mg, or placebo. All participants in AD Up used topical corticosteroids.

At 16 weeks, in Measure Up 1, Measure Up 2, and AD Up, respectively, a greater proportion of adolescents improved by at least 75% in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI 75) with upadacitinib 15 mg (73%, 69%, 63%); and with upadacitinib 30 mg (78%, 73%, 84%), compared with placebo (12%, 13%, 30%), (P < .001 for all comparisons vs. placebo).

Upadacitinib was generally well tolerated among the adolescents, with mild or moderate acne being the most common adverse event, reported in 10%-13% of those on 15 mg and 15%-16% of those on 30 mg vs. 2%-3% of those on placebo.

Asked to comment on the study, Peck Ong, MD, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, said that he was not surprised by the drug’s effectiveness because JAK inhibitors are potent immunosuppressants. Strengths of the studies include the many pediatric participants, its international reach, and its use of standardized and validated measures, said Dr. Ong, who was not involved in the study.

“The effect of JAK inhibitors is more specific than traditional immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine and methotrexate but not as specific as biologics; therefore, long-term safety data are needed,” he advised. “16 weeks is a very short time to study a chronic disease like atopic dermatitis. We need safety data longer than 1 year.”

Given the disease’s potential impact on self-esteem, sleep, and other important areas of life, Sean Reynolds, MBBCH, a pediatric dermatologist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City (Mo.), welcomed the data on the newer pharmacologic agents.

“FDA-approved systemic treatment options for adolescents with AD are currently limited, which necessitates studies such as this that explore additional treatment options,” said Dr. Reynolds, who also was not involved in the study, told this news organization.

He added that oral upadacitinib may especially help patients who have not found relief with other topical or systemic treatments or who are needle phobic. While the overall efficacy and relatively mild side effects for most patients taking upadacitinib in the trials are encouraging, “the long-term efficacy and side effects in this population require further study, especially considering the limited systemic AD treatment options available in this age group,” he added.

“Given the reported use of other JAK inhibitors to treat myriad inflammatory skin conditions beyond atopic dermatitis, the potential use of upadacitinib and other JAK inhibitors to treat these skin diseases in children and adolescents represents an exciting area for future study in the field of pediatric dermatology,” Dr. Reynolds noted.

The study was funded by AbbVie, the developer and manufacturer of upadacitinib. Dr. Paller and almost all other authors reported relevant financial relationships with AbbVie and other pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Ong reported serving on an AbbVie advisory board, and Dr. Reynolds reported no conflict of interest with the study.

The Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor upadacitinib is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for adolescents with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD), an analysis of three clinical trials reports.

Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with refractory, moderate to severe AD, in January 2022. This study analyzed the adolescent data in three double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 randomized clinical trials, which included adults and 552 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age with moderate to severe AD in more than 20 countries in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Oceania, and the Asia-Pacific region from July 2018 through December 2020.

In the studies, “treatment of moderate to severe AD in adolescents with upadacitinib was effective and generally well tolerated, with an overall efficacy and safety profile similar to that observed in adults, and patient-reported outcomes indicated an overall better health-related quality of life compared with placebo,” lead study author Amy S. Paller, MD, chair of the department of dermatology and professor of dermatology and pediatrics, at Northwestern University, Chicago, and her colleagues write in JAMA Dermatology.

Adolescents in the three studies – Measure Up 1, Measure Up 2, and AD Up – received once-daily oral upadacitinib 15 mg, 30 mg, or placebo. All participants in AD Up used topical corticosteroids.

At 16 weeks, in Measure Up 1, Measure Up 2, and AD Up, respectively, a greater proportion of adolescents improved by at least 75% in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI 75) with upadacitinib 15 mg (73%, 69%, 63%); and with upadacitinib 30 mg (78%, 73%, 84%), compared with placebo (12%, 13%, 30%), (P < .001 for all comparisons vs. placebo).

Upadacitinib was generally well tolerated among the adolescents, with mild or moderate acne being the most common adverse event, reported in 10%-13% of those on 15 mg and 15%-16% of those on 30 mg vs. 2%-3% of those on placebo.

Asked to comment on the study, Peck Ong, MD, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, said that he was not surprised by the drug’s effectiveness because JAK inhibitors are potent immunosuppressants. Strengths of the studies include the many pediatric participants, its international reach, and its use of standardized and validated measures, said Dr. Ong, who was not involved in the study.

“The effect of JAK inhibitors is more specific than traditional immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine and methotrexate but not as specific as biologics; therefore, long-term safety data are needed,” he advised. “16 weeks is a very short time to study a chronic disease like atopic dermatitis. We need safety data longer than 1 year.”

Given the disease’s potential impact on self-esteem, sleep, and other important areas of life, Sean Reynolds, MBBCH, a pediatric dermatologist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City (Mo.), welcomed the data on the newer pharmacologic agents.

“FDA-approved systemic treatment options for adolescents with AD are currently limited, which necessitates studies such as this that explore additional treatment options,” said Dr. Reynolds, who also was not involved in the study, told this news organization.

He added that oral upadacitinib may especially help patients who have not found relief with other topical or systemic treatments or who are needle phobic. While the overall efficacy and relatively mild side effects for most patients taking upadacitinib in the trials are encouraging, “the long-term efficacy and side effects in this population require further study, especially considering the limited systemic AD treatment options available in this age group,” he added.

“Given the reported use of other JAK inhibitors to treat myriad inflammatory skin conditions beyond atopic dermatitis, the potential use of upadacitinib and other JAK inhibitors to treat these skin diseases in children and adolescents represents an exciting area for future study in the field of pediatric dermatology,” Dr. Reynolds noted.

The study was funded by AbbVie, the developer and manufacturer of upadacitinib. Dr. Paller and almost all other authors reported relevant financial relationships with AbbVie and other pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Ong reported serving on an AbbVie advisory board, and Dr. Reynolds reported no conflict of interest with the study.

The Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor upadacitinib is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for adolescents with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD), an analysis of three clinical trials reports.

Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with refractory, moderate to severe AD, in January 2022. This study analyzed the adolescent data in three double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 randomized clinical trials, which included adults and 552 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age with moderate to severe AD in more than 20 countries in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Oceania, and the Asia-Pacific region from July 2018 through December 2020.

In the studies, “treatment of moderate to severe AD in adolescents with upadacitinib was effective and generally well tolerated, with an overall efficacy and safety profile similar to that observed in adults, and patient-reported outcomes indicated an overall better health-related quality of life compared with placebo,” lead study author Amy S. Paller, MD, chair of the department of dermatology and professor of dermatology and pediatrics, at Northwestern University, Chicago, and her colleagues write in JAMA Dermatology.

Adolescents in the three studies – Measure Up 1, Measure Up 2, and AD Up – received once-daily oral upadacitinib 15 mg, 30 mg, or placebo. All participants in AD Up used topical corticosteroids.

At 16 weeks, in Measure Up 1, Measure Up 2, and AD Up, respectively, a greater proportion of adolescents improved by at least 75% in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI 75) with upadacitinib 15 mg (73%, 69%, 63%); and with upadacitinib 30 mg (78%, 73%, 84%), compared with placebo (12%, 13%, 30%), (P < .001 for all comparisons vs. placebo).

Upadacitinib was generally well tolerated among the adolescents, with mild or moderate acne being the most common adverse event, reported in 10%-13% of those on 15 mg and 15%-16% of those on 30 mg vs. 2%-3% of those on placebo.

Asked to comment on the study, Peck Ong, MD, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, said that he was not surprised by the drug’s effectiveness because JAK inhibitors are potent immunosuppressants. Strengths of the studies include the many pediatric participants, its international reach, and its use of standardized and validated measures, said Dr. Ong, who was not involved in the study.

“The effect of JAK inhibitors is more specific than traditional immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine and methotrexate but not as specific as biologics; therefore, long-term safety data are needed,” he advised. “16 weeks is a very short time to study a chronic disease like atopic dermatitis. We need safety data longer than 1 year.”

Given the disease’s potential impact on self-esteem, sleep, and other important areas of life, Sean Reynolds, MBBCH, a pediatric dermatologist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City (Mo.), welcomed the data on the newer pharmacologic agents.

“FDA-approved systemic treatment options for adolescents with AD are currently limited, which necessitates studies such as this that explore additional treatment options,” said Dr. Reynolds, who also was not involved in the study, told this news organization.

He added that oral upadacitinib may especially help patients who have not found relief with other topical or systemic treatments or who are needle phobic. While the overall efficacy and relatively mild side effects for most patients taking upadacitinib in the trials are encouraging, “the long-term efficacy and side effects in this population require further study, especially considering the limited systemic AD treatment options available in this age group,” he added.

“Given the reported use of other JAK inhibitors to treat myriad inflammatory skin conditions beyond atopic dermatitis, the potential use of upadacitinib and other JAK inhibitors to treat these skin diseases in children and adolescents represents an exciting area for future study in the field of pediatric dermatology,” Dr. Reynolds noted.

The study was funded by AbbVie, the developer and manufacturer of upadacitinib. Dr. Paller and almost all other authors reported relevant financial relationships with AbbVie and other pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Ong reported serving on an AbbVie advisory board, and Dr. Reynolds reported no conflict of interest with the study.

Key clinical point: The overall risk for hospital-diagnosed acne is significantly higher in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), highlighting the need to address comorbid skin diseases simultaneously along with the management of AD.

Major finding: Patients with AD vs control individuals had a 3-fold higher overall risk for hospital-diagnosed acne at ≤18 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.44; 95% CI 3.13-3.78) and ≤30 years (aOR 3.15; 95% CI 2.90-3.42) of age.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective registry study that included 70,584 patients with AD aged ≤18 years at the time of their first AD diagnosis and 270,783 matched control individuals without AD.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Some authors declared serving as investigators and receiving educational grants, consulting fees, or speaker honoraria from various organizations.

Source: Sinikumpu SP et al. The association between atopic dermatitis and acne: A retrospective Finnish nationwide registry study. Br J Dermatol. 2023 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad086

Key clinical point: The overall risk for hospital-diagnosed acne is significantly higher in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), highlighting the need to address comorbid skin diseases simultaneously along with the management of AD.

Major finding: Patients with AD vs control individuals had a 3-fold higher overall risk for hospital-diagnosed acne at ≤18 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.44; 95% CI 3.13-3.78) and ≤30 years (aOR 3.15; 95% CI 2.90-3.42) of age.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective registry study that included 70,584 patients with AD aged ≤18 years at the time of their first AD diagnosis and 270,783 matched control individuals without AD.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Some authors declared serving as investigators and receiving educational grants, consulting fees, or speaker honoraria from various organizations.

Source: Sinikumpu SP et al. The association between atopic dermatitis and acne: A retrospective Finnish nationwide registry study. Br J Dermatol. 2023 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad086

Key clinical point: The overall risk for hospital-diagnosed acne is significantly higher in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), highlighting the need to address comorbid skin diseases simultaneously along with the management of AD.

Major finding: Patients with AD vs control individuals had a 3-fold higher overall risk for hospital-diagnosed acne at ≤18 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.44; 95% CI 3.13-3.78) and ≤30 years (aOR 3.15; 95% CI 2.90-3.42) of age.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective registry study that included 70,584 patients with AD aged ≤18 years at the time of their first AD diagnosis and 270,783 matched control individuals without AD.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. Some authors declared serving as investigators and receiving educational grants, consulting fees, or speaker honoraria from various organizations.

Source: Sinikumpu SP et al. The association between atopic dermatitis and acne: A retrospective Finnish nationwide registry study. Br J Dermatol. 2023 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad086

Key clinical point: Among malignancies, including breast cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) had the highest incidence rate (IR) for NMSC followed by breast cancer and melanoma; NMSC incidence increased with age among patients with moderate but not severe AD.

Major finding: In patients with moderate and severe AD, the IR per 1000 person-years were 4.6 (95% CI 3.9-5.5) and 5.9 (95% CI 3.8-9.2) for NMSC, 2.2 (95% CI 1.6-3.0) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.1-3.9) for breast cancer, and 0.4 (95% CI 0.2-0.7) and 0.6 (95% CI 0.1-2.3) for melanoma, respectively. The NMSC IR increased with increasing age in patients with moderate AD (18-39 vs ≥65 years: 0.1 [95% CI 0.0-0.7] vs 18.0 [95% CI 13.9-23.2]).

Study details: This retrospective study analyzed the data of 7050 adults with moderate-to-severe AD from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California database.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Some authors reported ties with various organizations, including Pfizer.

Source: Hedderson MM et al. Rates of malignancies among patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis: A retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2023;13(3):e071172 (Mar 10). Doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071172

Key clinical point: Among malignancies, including breast cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) had the highest incidence rate (IR) for NMSC followed by breast cancer and melanoma; NMSC incidence increased with age among patients with moderate but not severe AD.

Major finding: In patients with moderate and severe AD, the IR per 1000 person-years were 4.6 (95% CI 3.9-5.5) and 5.9 (95% CI 3.8-9.2) for NMSC, 2.2 (95% CI 1.6-3.0) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.1-3.9) for breast cancer, and 0.4 (95% CI 0.2-0.7) and 0.6 (95% CI 0.1-2.3) for melanoma, respectively. The NMSC IR increased with increasing age in patients with moderate AD (18-39 vs ≥65 years: 0.1 [95% CI 0.0-0.7] vs 18.0 [95% CI 13.9-23.2]).

Study details: This retrospective study analyzed the data of 7050 adults with moderate-to-severe AD from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California database.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Some authors reported ties with various organizations, including Pfizer.

Source: Hedderson MM et al. Rates of malignancies among patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis: A retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2023;13(3):e071172 (Mar 10). Doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071172

Key clinical point: Among malignancies, including breast cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) had the highest incidence rate (IR) for NMSC followed by breast cancer and melanoma; NMSC incidence increased with age among patients with moderate but not severe AD.

Major finding: In patients with moderate and severe AD, the IR per 1000 person-years were 4.6 (95% CI 3.9-5.5) and 5.9 (95% CI 3.8-9.2) for NMSC, 2.2 (95% CI 1.6-3.0) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.1-3.9) for breast cancer, and 0.4 (95% CI 0.2-0.7) and 0.6 (95% CI 0.1-2.3) for melanoma, respectively. The NMSC IR increased with increasing age in patients with moderate AD (18-39 vs ≥65 years: 0.1 [95% CI 0.0-0.7] vs 18.0 [95% CI 13.9-23.2]).

Study details: This retrospective study analyzed the data of 7050 adults with moderate-to-severe AD from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California database.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Some authors reported ties with various organizations, including Pfizer.

Source: Hedderson MM et al. Rates of malignancies among patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis: A retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2023;13(3):e071172 (Mar 10). Doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071172

Key clinical point: Compared with conventional treatment, enhanced treatment with topical corticosteroids (TCS) significantly reduced the incidence of hen’s egg allergy among infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) but retarded their growth.

Major finding: Infants receiving enhanced vs conventional treatment had a significantly lower incidence of hen’s egg allergy (31.4% vs 41.9%; P = .0028), but demonstrated lower body weight (mean difference −422 g; 95% CI −553 to −292 g) and height (mean difference −0.8 cm; 95% CI −1.22 to −0.33 cm) at 28 weeks of age.

Study details: This randomized controlled trial included 640 infants aged 7-13 weeks with AD who were randomly assigned to receive enhanced therapy (alclometasone dipropionate for the whole face and betamethasone valerate for whole body except face and scalp) followed by maintenance therapy (n = 318) or conventional therapy (alclometasone dipropionate and betamethasone valerate for the affected skin; n = 322).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). Some authors reported ties with various organizations, including AMED.

Source: Yamamoto-Hanada K et al on behalf of PACI Study Collaborators. Enhanced early skin treatment for atopic dermatitis in infants reduces food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.03.008

Key clinical point: Compared with conventional treatment, enhanced treatment with topical corticosteroids (TCS) significantly reduced the incidence of hen’s egg allergy among infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) but retarded their growth.

Major finding: Infants receiving enhanced vs conventional treatment had a significantly lower incidence of hen’s egg allergy (31.4% vs 41.9%; P = .0028), but demonstrated lower body weight (mean difference −422 g; 95% CI −553 to −292 g) and height (mean difference −0.8 cm; 95% CI −1.22 to −0.33 cm) at 28 weeks of age.

Study details: This randomized controlled trial included 640 infants aged 7-13 weeks with AD who were randomly assigned to receive enhanced therapy (alclometasone dipropionate for the whole face and betamethasone valerate for whole body except face and scalp) followed by maintenance therapy (n = 318) or conventional therapy (alclometasone dipropionate and betamethasone valerate for the affected skin; n = 322).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). Some authors reported ties with various organizations, including AMED.

Source: Yamamoto-Hanada K et al on behalf of PACI Study Collaborators. Enhanced early skin treatment for atopic dermatitis in infants reduces food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.03.008

Key clinical point: Compared with conventional treatment, enhanced treatment with topical corticosteroids (TCS) significantly reduced the incidence of hen’s egg allergy among infants with atopic dermatitis (AD) but retarded their growth.

Major finding: Infants receiving enhanced vs conventional treatment had a significantly lower incidence of hen’s egg allergy (31.4% vs 41.9%; P = .0028), but demonstrated lower body weight (mean difference −422 g; 95% CI −553 to −292 g) and height (mean difference −0.8 cm; 95% CI −1.22 to −0.33 cm) at 28 weeks of age.

Study details: This randomized controlled trial included 640 infants aged 7-13 weeks with AD who were randomly assigned to receive enhanced therapy (alclometasone dipropionate for the whole face and betamethasone valerate for whole body except face and scalp) followed by maintenance therapy (n = 318) or conventional therapy (alclometasone dipropionate and betamethasone valerate for the affected skin; n = 322).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). Some authors reported ties with various organizations, including AMED.

Source: Yamamoto-Hanada K et al on behalf of PACI Study Collaborators. Enhanced early skin treatment for atopic dermatitis in infants reduces food allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.03.008

Key clinical point: Children living closer to highly trafficked segments (HTS) are at a greater risk of developing atopic dermatitis (AD).

Major finding: Children living at ≥1,000 vs <500 m from an HTS had 27% lower odds of developing AD (P = .0009). The odds of AD decreased by 21% (P = .0002) with each factor of 10 increase in the distance from an HTS.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 7247 children aged 0-18 years with AD and 7247 age- and sex-matched control individuals without AD.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, and Eugene F and Easton M Crawford Charitable Lead Unitrust, Chicago, Illinois. D Leung reported ties with various organizations.

Source: Nevid MZ et al. The association of residential distance from highly trafficked roads with atopic dermatitis risk. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023 (Mar 20). Doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.03.021

Key clinical point: Children living closer to highly trafficked segments (HTS) are at a greater risk of developing atopic dermatitis (AD).

Major finding: Children living at ≥1,000 vs <500 m from an HTS had 27% lower odds of developing AD (P = .0009). The odds of AD decreased by 21% (P = .0002) with each factor of 10 increase in the distance from an HTS.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 7247 children aged 0-18 years with AD and 7247 age- and sex-matched control individuals without AD.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, and Eugene F and Easton M Crawford Charitable Lead Unitrust, Chicago, Illinois. D Leung reported ties with various organizations.

Source: Nevid MZ et al. The association of residential distance from highly trafficked roads with atopic dermatitis risk. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023 (Mar 20). Doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.03.021

Key clinical point: Children living closer to highly trafficked segments (HTS) are at a greater risk of developing atopic dermatitis (AD).

Major finding: Children living at ≥1,000 vs <500 m from an HTS had 27% lower odds of developing AD (P = .0009). The odds of AD decreased by 21% (P = .0002) with each factor of 10 increase in the distance from an HTS.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 7247 children aged 0-18 years with AD and 7247 age- and sex-matched control individuals without AD.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, and Eugene F and Easton M Crawford Charitable Lead Unitrust, Chicago, Illinois. D Leung reported ties with various organizations.

Source: Nevid MZ et al. The association of residential distance from highly trafficked roads with atopic dermatitis risk. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023 (Mar 20). Doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.03.021

Key clinical point: An induction treatment of 200 mg abrocitinib followed by dose reduction (100 mg) or continuous dosing (200 mg) is efficacious and safe in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD).

Major finding: In the 200 mg abrocitinib, 100 mg abrocitinib, and placebo arms, similar proportions of adolescents and adults experienced disease flare (14.9% and 16.9%, 42.9% and 38.9%, and 75.5% and 78.0%, respectively) and the Eczema Area and Severity Index response was recaptured by 28.6%, 25.0%, and 52.9% of adolescents and 34.3%, 33.7%, and 58.0% of adults, respectively. The safety profile was consistent in adolescents and adults.

Study details: This post hoc analysis of the JADE REGIMEN study included 246 adolescents (12-17 years) and 987 adults with moderate-to-severe AD who received 200 mg abrocitinib induction treatment; responders were randomly assigned to receive 40-week abrocitinib (200/100 mg) or placebo maintenance treatment and rescue treatment (if disease flared).

Disclosures: Pfizer Inc funded the study. Some authors reported various ties, including employment and stock ownership, with Pfizer or others.

Source: Flohr C et al. Efficacy and safety of abrocitinib monotherapy in adolescents and adults: A post hoc analysis of the phase 3 JAK1 atopic dermatitis efficacy and safety (JADE) REGIMEN clinical trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2023;1-13 (Apr 10). Doi: 10.1080/09546634.2023.2200866

Key clinical point: An induction treatment of 200 mg abrocitinib followed by dose reduction (100 mg) or continuous dosing (200 mg) is efficacious and safe in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD).

Major finding: In the 200 mg abrocitinib, 100 mg abrocitinib, and placebo arms, similar proportions of adolescents and adults experienced disease flare (14.9% and 16.9%, 42.9% and 38.9%, and 75.5% and 78.0%, respectively) and the Eczema Area and Severity Index response was recaptured by 28.6%, 25.0%, and 52.9% of adolescents and 34.3%, 33.7%, and 58.0% of adults, respectively. The safety profile was consistent in adolescents and adults.

Study details: This post hoc analysis of the JADE REGIMEN study included 246 adolescents (12-17 years) and 987 adults with moderate-to-severe AD who received 200 mg abrocitinib induction treatment; responders were randomly assigned to receive 40-week abrocitinib (200/100 mg) or placebo maintenance treatment and rescue treatment (if disease flared).

Disclosures: Pfizer Inc funded the study. Some authors reported various ties, including employment and stock ownership, with Pfizer or others.

Source: Flohr C et al. Efficacy and safety of abrocitinib monotherapy in adolescents and adults: A post hoc analysis of the phase 3 JAK1 atopic dermatitis efficacy and safety (JADE) REGIMEN clinical trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2023;1-13 (Apr 10). Doi: 10.1080/09546634.2023.2200866

Key clinical point: An induction treatment of 200 mg abrocitinib followed by dose reduction (100 mg) or continuous dosing (200 mg) is efficacious and safe in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD).

Major finding: In the 200 mg abrocitinib, 100 mg abrocitinib, and placebo arms, similar proportions of adolescents and adults experienced disease flare (14.9% and 16.9%, 42.9% and 38.9%, and 75.5% and 78.0%, respectively) and the Eczema Area and Severity Index response was recaptured by 28.6%, 25.0%, and 52.9% of adolescents and 34.3%, 33.7%, and 58.0% of adults, respectively. The safety profile was consistent in adolescents and adults.

Study details: This post hoc analysis of the JADE REGIMEN study included 246 adolescents (12-17 years) and 987 adults with moderate-to-severe AD who received 200 mg abrocitinib induction treatment; responders were randomly assigned to receive 40-week abrocitinib (200/100 mg) or placebo maintenance treatment and rescue treatment (if disease flared).

Disclosures: Pfizer Inc funded the study. Some authors reported various ties, including employment and stock ownership, with Pfizer or others.

Source: Flohr C et al. Efficacy and safety of abrocitinib monotherapy in adolescents and adults: A post hoc analysis of the phase 3 JAK1 atopic dermatitis efficacy and safety (JADE) REGIMEN clinical trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2023;1-13 (Apr 10). Doi: 10.1080/09546634.2023.2200866

Key clinical point: Maternal atopic dermatitis (AD) significantly increases the risk for both childhood- and adult-onset AD, and active smoking is the main lifestyle risk factor for adult-onset AD.

Major finding: Compared with non-atopic and atopic control individuals, individuals with a maternal AD family history had a significantly higher risk for childhood-onset (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.36, 95% CI 1.18-16.17; and aOR 32.97, 95% CI 4.03-269.68, respectively) and adult-onset AD (aOR 15.79, 95% CI 1.81-137.74; and aOR 34.15, 95% CI 3.15-370.28, respectively) and active smokers had an increased risk for adult-onset AD (aOR 5.54, 95% CI 1.06-29.01; and aOR 4.03, 95% CI 1.20-13.45, respectively).

Study details: This study analyzed the cross-sectional data of 736 adult individuals with childhood-onset (<18 years) or adult-onset (≥18 years) AD and 76 non-atopic and 91 atopic control individuals without AD.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the Christine Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), Switzerland. Some authors declared various ties, including employment, with CK-CARE or others.

Source: Maintz L et al. Atopic dermatitis: Correlation of distinct risk factors with age of onset in adulthood compared to childhood. Allergy. 2023 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1111/all.15721

Key clinical point: Maternal atopic dermatitis (AD) significantly increases the risk for both childhood- and adult-onset AD, and active smoking is the main lifestyle risk factor for adult-onset AD.

Major finding: Compared with non-atopic and atopic control individuals, individuals with a maternal AD family history had a significantly higher risk for childhood-onset (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.36, 95% CI 1.18-16.17; and aOR 32.97, 95% CI 4.03-269.68, respectively) and adult-onset AD (aOR 15.79, 95% CI 1.81-137.74; and aOR 34.15, 95% CI 3.15-370.28, respectively) and active smokers had an increased risk for adult-onset AD (aOR 5.54, 95% CI 1.06-29.01; and aOR 4.03, 95% CI 1.20-13.45, respectively).

Study details: This study analyzed the cross-sectional data of 736 adult individuals with childhood-onset (<18 years) or adult-onset (≥18 years) AD and 76 non-atopic and 91 atopic control individuals without AD.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the Christine Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), Switzerland. Some authors declared various ties, including employment, with CK-CARE or others.

Source: Maintz L et al. Atopic dermatitis: Correlation of distinct risk factors with age of onset in adulthood compared to childhood. Allergy. 2023 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1111/all.15721

Key clinical point: Maternal atopic dermatitis (AD) significantly increases the risk for both childhood- and adult-onset AD, and active smoking is the main lifestyle risk factor for adult-onset AD.

Major finding: Compared with non-atopic and atopic control individuals, individuals with a maternal AD family history had a significantly higher risk for childhood-onset (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.36, 95% CI 1.18-16.17; and aOR 32.97, 95% CI 4.03-269.68, respectively) and adult-onset AD (aOR 15.79, 95% CI 1.81-137.74; and aOR 34.15, 95% CI 3.15-370.28, respectively) and active smokers had an increased risk for adult-onset AD (aOR 5.54, 95% CI 1.06-29.01; and aOR 4.03, 95% CI 1.20-13.45, respectively).

Study details: This study analyzed the cross-sectional data of 736 adult individuals with childhood-onset (<18 years) or adult-onset (≥18 years) AD and 76 non-atopic and 91 atopic control individuals without AD.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the Christine Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), Switzerland. Some authors declared various ties, including employment, with CK-CARE or others.

Source: Maintz L et al. Atopic dermatitis: Correlation of distinct risk factors with age of onset in adulthood compared to childhood. Allergy. 2023 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1111/all.15721

Key clinical point: Long-term topical corticosteroid (TCS) and tacrolimus (TAC) treatments had similar efficacy and impact on airway hyperresponsiveness or inflammation in children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD).

Major finding: At month 36, children treated with TCS and TAC had no significant difference in the mean body surface area (P  =  .12), mean Eczema Area and Severity Index score (P  =  .2), mean Investigator’s Global Assessment Score (P  =  .12), mean transepidermal water loss at eczema site (P  =  .96) and control site (P  =  .19), median exhaled nitric oxide level (P  =  .71), or median bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine (P  =  .7).

Study details: Findings are from a single-center 3-year follow-up study including 152 children aged 1-3 years with moderate-to-severe AD who were randomly assigned to receive TCS (n = 75) or TAC (n = 77).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Foundation for Paediatric Research, Finland, Orion Research Foundation, Finland, Orion Pharma, Finland, Astellas Pharma, Japan, and others. Orion and Astellas are commercial manufacturers of the TCS used in this study.

Source: Perälä M et al. Topical tacrolimus versus corticosteroids in childhood moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis with impact on airways: A long-term randomized open-label study. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2023 (Mar 14). Doi: 10.1093/ced/llad098

Key clinical point: Long-term topical corticosteroid (TCS) and tacrolimus (TAC) treatments had similar efficacy and impact on airway hyperresponsiveness or inflammation in children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD).

Major finding: At month 36, children treated with TCS and TAC had no significant difference in the mean body surface area (P  =  .12), mean Eczema Area and Severity Index score (P  =  .2), mean Investigator’s Global Assessment Score (P  =  .12), mean transepidermal water loss at eczema site (P  =  .96) and control site (P  =  .19), median exhaled nitric oxide level (P  =  .71), or median bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine (P  =  .7).

Study details: Findings are from a single-center 3-year follow-up study including 152 children aged 1-3 years with moderate-to-severe AD who were randomly assigned to receive TCS (n = 75) or TAC (n = 77).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Foundation for Paediatric Research, Finland, Orion Research Foundation, Finland, Orion Pharma, Finland, Astellas Pharma, Japan, and others. Orion and Astellas are commercial manufacturers of the TCS used in this study.

Source: Perälä M et al. Topical tacrolimus versus corticosteroids in childhood moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis with impact on airways: A long-term randomized open-label study. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2023 (Mar 14). Doi: 10.1093/ced/llad098

Key clinical point: Long-term topical corticosteroid (TCS) and tacrolimus (TAC) treatments had similar efficacy and impact on airway hyperresponsiveness or inflammation in children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD).

Major finding: At month 36, children treated with TCS and TAC had no significant difference in the mean body surface area (P  =  .12), mean Eczema Area and Severity Index score (P  =  .2), mean Investigator’s Global Assessment Score (P  =  .12), mean transepidermal water loss at eczema site (P  =  .96) and control site (P  =  .19), median exhaled nitric oxide level (P  =  .71), or median bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine (P  =  .7).

Study details: Findings are from a single-center 3-year follow-up study including 152 children aged 1-3 years with moderate-to-severe AD who were randomly assigned to receive TCS (n = 75) or TAC (n = 77).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Foundation for Paediatric Research, Finland, Orion Research Foundation, Finland, Orion Pharma, Finland, Astellas Pharma, Japan, and others. Orion and Astellas are commercial manufacturers of the TCS used in this study.

Source: Perälä M et al. Topical tacrolimus versus corticosteroids in childhood moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis with impact on airways: A long-term randomized open-label study. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2023 (Mar 14). Doi: 10.1093/ced/llad098

Key clinical point: Baricitinib offers the flexibility of dose down-titration and improvement in atopic dermatitis (AD) signs and symptoms up to treatment week 104 in patients with moderate-to-severe AD.

Major finding: Among patients receiving 4 mg baricitinib, 51.2% and 47.6% achieved or maintained a validated Investigator’s Global Assessment for AD score of 0 or 1 and 82.1%, and 73.8% maintained an Eczema Area and Severity Index 75 response at weeks 52 and 104, respectively. The clinical response was maintained after down-titration to 2 mg baricitinib.

Study details: This sub-study of the BREEZE-AD3 trial included 168 patients with moderate-to-severe AD who were responders or partial responders to 4 mg baricitinib in originating studies and were re-assigned (1:1) to receive 4 or 2 mg baricitinib at week 52.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company under license from Incyte Corporation. Some authors reported ties with various organizations, including Eli Lilly. Four authors declared being employees and stockholders of Eli Lilly.

Source: Thyssen JP et al. Maintained improvement in physician- and patient-reported outcomes with baricitinib in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who were treated for up to 104 weeks in a randomized trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2023;34(1):2190430 (Apr 5). Doi: 10.1080/09546634.2023.2190430

Key clinical point: Baricitinib offers the flexibility of dose down-titration and improvement in atopic dermatitis (AD) signs and symptoms up to treatment week 104 in patients with moderate-to-severe AD.

Major finding: Among patients receiving 4 mg baricitinib, 51.2% and 47.6% achieved or maintained a validated Investigator’s Global Assessment for AD score of 0 or 1 and 82.1%, and 73.8% maintained an Eczema Area and Severity Index 75 response at weeks 52 and 104, respectively. The clinical response was maintained after down-titration to 2 mg baricitinib.

Study details: This sub-study of the BREEZE-AD3 trial included 168 patients with moderate-to-severe AD who were responders or partial responders to 4 mg baricitinib in originating studies and were re-assigned (1:1) to receive 4 or 2 mg baricitinib at week 52.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company under license from Incyte Corporation. Some authors reported ties with various organizations, including Eli Lilly. Four authors declared being employees and stockholders of Eli Lilly.

Source: Thyssen JP et al. Maintained improvement in physician- and patient-reported outcomes with baricitinib in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who were treated for up to 104 weeks in a randomized trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2023;34(1):2190430 (Apr 5). Doi: 10.1080/09546634.2023.2190430

Key clinical point: Baricitinib offers the flexibility of dose down-titration and improvement in atopic dermatitis (AD) signs and symptoms up to treatment week 104 in patients with moderate-to-severe AD.

Major finding: Among patients receiving 4 mg baricitinib, 51.2% and 47.6% achieved or maintained a validated Investigator’s Global Assessment for AD score of 0 or 1 and 82.1%, and 73.8% maintained an Eczema Area and Severity Index 75 response at weeks 52 and 104, respectively. The clinical response was maintained after down-titration to 2 mg baricitinib.

Study details: This sub-study of the BREEZE-AD3 trial included 168 patients with moderate-to-severe AD who were responders or partial responders to 4 mg baricitinib in originating studies and were re-assigned (1:1) to receive 4 or 2 mg baricitinib at week 52.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Eli Lilly and Company under license from Incyte Corporation. Some authors reported ties with various organizations, including Eli Lilly. Four authors declared being employees and stockholders of Eli Lilly.

Source: Thyssen JP et al. Maintained improvement in physician- and patient-reported outcomes with baricitinib in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who were treated for up to 104 weeks in a randomized trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2023;34(1):2190430 (Apr 5). Doi: 10.1080/09546634.2023.2190430