Ocular Surface Disease in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis Treated With Dupilumab: A Prospective Case-Control Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation of dry eye disease (DED) prevalence in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) treated with dupilumab.

This prospective case-control study included consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe AD scheduled for dupilumab between May and December 2021 and healthy subjects. DED prevalence, the Ocular Surface Disease Index, tear film breakup time test, osmolarity, Oxford staining score, and Schirmer test results were collected at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months after dupilumab therapy. The Eczema Area and Severity Index was assessed at baseline. Ocular side effects and discontinuation of dupilumab were also recorded.

Seventy-two eyes from 36 patients with AD treated with dupilumab and 36 healthy controls were included. Prevalence of DED increased from 16.7% at baseline to 33.3% at 6 months in the dupilumab group ( P = 0.001), whereas it remained unchanged in the control group ( P = 0.110). At 6 months, the Ocular Surface Disease Index and Oxford score increased (from 8.5 ± 9.8 to 11.0 ± 13.0, P = 0.068, and from 0.1 ± 0.5 to 0.3 ± 0.6, P = 0.050, respectively), the tear film breakup time test and Schirmer test results decreased (from 7.8 ± 2.6 s to 7.1 ± 2.7 s, P < 0.001, and from 15.4 ± 9.6 mm to 13.2 ± 7.9 mm, P = 0.036, respectively) in the dupilumab group, whereas they remained stable in the control group ( P > 0.05). Osmolarity was unchanged (dupilumab P = 0.987 and controls P = 0.073). At 6 months after dupilumab therapy, 42% of patients had conjunctivitis, 36% blepharitis, and 2.8% keratitis. No severe side effects were reported, and none of the patients discontinued dupilumab. No association between Eczema Area and Severity Index and DED prevalence was shown.

DED prevalence increased in patients with AD treated with dupilumab at 6 months. However, no severe ocular side effects were found and no patient discontinued therapy.