2019 Volume 18 Issue 5 Pages 306-312
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common disease ; however, severe refractory cases have been reported. In April 2018, a biological drug, dupilumab, became available in Japan for the treatment of severe AD. This study evaluated the efcacy of dupilumab in 14 patientswith refractory AD, and treatment satisfaction regarding treatment costs and visit frequency. Dupilumab significantly alleviated itching, and improved the eczema area and severity index (EASI), body surface area (BSA),and Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) values after 4-week treatment, demonstrating high efficacy. In addition, treatment effects for refractory AD were observed at an early stage, and high treatment satisfaction was recorded for ＞80% patients. This effectively led to an increase in the willingness to continue dupilumab. However, patients were dissatised with the treatment cost and visit frequency (once every two weeks). Moreover, many patients were eligible for dupilumab use,but were unable to use it because of the treatment cost and visit frequency. Dupilumab was approved to for use as a self-injection in May 2019. Self-injection has reduced the frequency of hospital visits, and long-term prescriptions have enabled the use of social systems, thus reducing the financial and medical system burdens. In the future, doctors will have to provide treatment options,such as self-injection, to accommodate the patient’slifestyle and financial status. Skin Research, 18 : 306-312, 2019
