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Efalizumab for severe atopic dermatitis: a pilot study in adults
Rodd Takiguchi1, Susan Tofte, Brenda Simpson
1Department of Dermatology at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA.
Efalizumab showed significant improvement in severe atopic dermatitis (AD) for six out of ten patients in a pilot study. Further research is needed to confirm its safety and efficacy as a new systemic therapy for AD.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Severe atopic dermatitis (AD) often resists topical treatments.
- Current systemic therapies for AD have limitations due to end-organ toxicities.
- A safe and effective systemic therapy for recalcitrant AD is urgently needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of efalizumab in adults with severe AD.
- Efalizumab is a T-cell activation and migration inhibitor.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study with ten severe AD subjects.
- Open-label, prospective design.
- Efalizumab administered subcutaneously for 12 weeks; Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) measured.
Main Results:
- Mean EASI score improved by 52.3% (P < .0001).
- Six of ten subjects achieved >= 50% EASI improvement.
- Pruritus decreased significantly (P < .015); efalizumab was generally well-tolerated.
Conclusions:
- Efalizumab demonstrated significant clinical improvements in a majority of severe AD subjects.
- Efalizumab may be a viable alternative to existing systemic immunosuppressants for AD.
- Further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are essential to validate efficacy and safety.
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