Identification of clinical predictors for dupilumab dose spacing in adults with atopic dermatitis: a real-world study

J Dermatolog Treat. 2023 Dec;34(1):2235041. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2023.2235041.

Abstract

Background: Dupilumab is a monoclonal antibody against the IL-4/IL-13 receptor-subunit approved for the treatment of moderate-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Some attempts to increase dose interval have been described in both trial and real-world settings.

Objective: This study aimed to identify predictive clinical and demographic factors affecting patient selection for dose spacing or treatment withdrawal due to satisfactory response.

Materials and methods: This retrospective study included adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with dupilumab for at least 16 weeks. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyze demographic and clinical variables. Logistic regression models were used to identify predictor variables.

Results: A total of 818 adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD was included in the study and 12% (97/818) of them performed dose spacing to 3-4 weeks or treatment withdrawal (8%, 67/818). The presence of non-cutaneous atopic manifestations (OR = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.06-2.38, p = 0.024), prurigo nodularis phenotype (OR = 4.5, 95%CI = 1.87-10.9, p = 0.001) and the age at treatment initiation (OR = 1.82, 95%CI = 1.12-2.94, p = 0.015) were confirmed as the strongest predictors of dose spacing or treatment withdrawal while maintaining dupilumab effectiveness.

Conclusion: Our findings contribute to define the patient profile that could maintain the therapeutic response after dose spacing or treatment withdrawal.

Keywords: Atopic dermatitis; atopic eczema; dose spacing; dupilumab; predictive factors.

Plain language summary

Predicting factors identified patients with dupilumab who could benefit of dose spacing or treatment withdrawal.

MeSH terms

  • Dermatitis, Atopic* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • dupilumab
  • Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit