Kimura's disease treated with dupilumab: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Background: Kimura's disease (KD) is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder characterised by painless, deep subcutaneous nodules that most commonly affect the head and neck region of Asian men. Due to high relapse rates and side effects of current therapies, the treatment of KD is challenging.

Objectives: To present a case of KD that was successfully treated with dupilumab and to review the literature with a focus on the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in KD.

Methods: A review of the available literature on the treatment of KD with dupilumab was performed and a new case was analyzed. To gain further insight into this promising therapy, literature review of 8 articles published between January 2016 and January 2024 were included in this study using the PubMed database.

Results: Our patient with KD was successfully treated with dupilumab 300 mg every 2 weeks, at an initial dose of 600 mg. The treatment was well tolerated. In the past, only nine patients with KD treated with dupilumab have been reported and reviewed, half of whom had failed prior treatment. All patients achieved significant efficacy after treatment with dupilumab, with no relapses during an average follow-up of 10.4 months (ranged from 4 to 16 months).

Conclusion: Dupilumab may be an emerging alternative treatment option for KD patients. Larger randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Keywords: Dupilumab; Kimura’s disease; Review; Therapy.