The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2020 approved dupilumab for use in children aged 6-11 years with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Qatar began using dupilumab for children aged 2 years and older since 2021.
One study was conducted in the United Kingdom to examine the real-world outcomes and safety of dupilumab in 72 children aged 7 to 18 years with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. 88% of children had previously failed to respond to oral systemic immunosuppressants. The study assessed Eczema Area, and Severity Index (EASI), Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA), the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), adverse events and discontinuation rates.
Dupilumab led to reduction in EASI scores of 94% (between 82% and 100%) in all children by the next clinic visit in 2 – 5 months and remained consistently low over 10 to 15 months follow-up, with EASI scores in the final follow-up of 2 (between 0 and 6). Other skin scores showed similar improvement. 8 of patients were able to discontinue treatment as their atopic dermatitis cleared. 17 patients experienced side effects (12 children had allergic conjunctivitis, 3 children had injection reactions and 2 children had psoriasiform rash). Only 6 patients discontinued dupilumab because of adverse events, one because of severe allergic conjunctivitis, and five because of atopic dermatitis.
The study concluded that dupilumab is highly effective in treating atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients with good safety outcomes. Further studies with longer follow-up and larger numbers of patients are needed to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of dupilumab, and the recurrence rate of atopic dermatitis after discontinuation of dupilumab.
