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New-Onset Vitiligo During Dupilumab Treatment: A Clinical Observation and Literature Review
Xuhui Pu1, Suzhen Ju2, Yanfang Yu2
1Department of Pharmacy, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Introduction:
Vitiligo is a rare adverse event associated with dupilumab. This study aims to describe a case of new-onset vitiligo following dupilumab treatment in a Chinese patient and to systematically review the literature to characterize its clinical features.
Methods:
A retrospective case analysis was conducted on a 70-year-old male patient who developed vitiligo as a result of dupilumab treatment. Comprehensive clinical, imaging, laboratory, and treatment data were meticulously documented. A systematic literature review revealed a total of 20 cases of dupilumab-induced vitiligo, which were categorized into two subgroups: improved (n = 13) and nonimproved (n = 7), based on treatment outcomes. The clinical characteristics of these subgroups were compared using appropriate statistical tests.
Results:
The patient developed depigmented patches accompanied by gray hair 4 months after the initiation of dupilumab, with no repigmentation observed despite ongoing treatment. Among the 20 pooled cases, the majority of patients received dupilumab for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (17/20, 85.00%). The onset of vitiligo typically occurred within 3 months of dupilumab initiation (11/18, 61.11%). Most patients presented with new-onset vitiligo (13/17, 76.47%), and more than half (13/20, 65.00%) exhibited clinical improvement in vitiligo symptoms. Subgroup analysis indicated that the use of topical corticosteroids (p = 0.017) was significantly associated with favorable outcomes.
Conclusion:
Dupilumab rarely induces new-onset vitiligo, even after drug discontinuation, potentially through the activation of the Th1/IFN-γ pathway following IL-4R blockade. The use of topical corticosteroids may be associated with more favorable outcomes in patients with dupilumab-induced vitiligo, whereas discontinuing dupilumab might not ensure repigmentation. Clinicians should closely monitor for depigmentation in patients treated with dupilumab, particularly in those with immune dysregulation, as early recognition and the application of topical corticosteroids may improve prognosis.
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