Background
The development of dermatitis on face and neck, which was not described in phase 3 clinical trials, has been reported in the literature in patients treated with dupilumab. Little is known regarding the causes or defining features of the facial dermatitis.
Objectives
We conducted surveys of consecutive patients with AD on dupilumab to describe its clinical features, morphology and aetiology.
Methods
A multi‐centre prospective cohort study was conducted from 1 January 2020, to 31 December 31 2020. A total of 162 patients under dupilumab treatment were asked to complete a questionnaire and patients were evaluated by dermatologists.
Results
Of all 162 patients, 137 (84.6%) patients reported pre‐existing facial dermatitis prior to dupilumab therapy. One hundred and twenty‐one (88.3%) patients with pre‐existing facial dermatitis reported improvement of their facial dermatitis with dupilumab therapy, nine (6.6%) patients reported no change after the treatment and seven (4.3%) patients of them got worse after the treatment (exacerbation group). Of 25 patients who reported no pre‐existing active facial dermatitis, six (24%) patients reported new‐onset facial erythema after the starting dupilumab therapy (new‐onset group). A large proportion of the patients in both the exacerbation (86%) and new‐onset groups (67%) had a history of facial TCS use. Both groups showed similar clinical manifestations and distribution with few differences.
Conclusions
The vast majority of patients treated with dupilumab in academic institutions from Korea and the United States experienced improvement in their facial dermatitis with dupilumab therapy. A small proportion of patients had new onset and exacerbation. Although the mechanisms of this adverse event remain unclear, steroid withdrawal should be considered as a diagnosis of the erythema in some patients.
This is the first reported case of a patient with MFS without autonomic dysfunction and AACG. We believe that pupillary dysfunction or lid ptosis due to neurological disorders may increase the possibility of AACG.
Background
Atopic dermatitis (AD) patients usually wonder if their condition will worsen after vaccination or if they should continue with the treatment they are receiving. Considering that many patients treated with dupilumab had previously experienced severe AD symptoms and flares, the concerns are more understandable.
Objective
This study aimed to investigate the safety of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in patients with AD treated with dupilumab.
Methods
We enrolled 133 patients (101 dupilumab-treated and 32 systemic oral agents-treated as control group) with AD from six hospitals. Patients were asked about worsening pruritus and AD (5-point Likert scale) after vaccination. AD variables (eczema area and severity index [EASI], investigator’s global assessment [IGA], itch numerical rating scale [NRS], sleep NRS, and patient-oriented eczema measure [POEM]) were compared pre- and post-vaccination. Adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccination were observed.
Results
The incidence of adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines and worsening AD symptoms in dupilumab-treated patients were not significantly different compared with that in the control group. The itch NRS score increased significantly after vaccination (
p
<0.001). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the pre-and post-EASI, IGA, and POEM scores. Eight patients (7.9%) had worse EASI scores and required rescue therapy; however, most were easily managed with low-dose steroids or topical agents. None of the patients discontinued dupilumab treatment.
Conclusion
No serious adverse reactions were observed in patients with AD after COVID-19 vaccination. Exacerbation of pruritus and AD symptoms was observed but was mostly mild and transient.
Cutaneous cryptococcosis is classified either as localized cutaneous cryptococcosis, in which the lesions are confined to one area of the skin, or as disseminated cryptococcosis, in which cutaneous manifestations are more widespread. We report a case of fatal disseminated cryptococcosis with characteristic cutaneous manifestations. An 84-year-old woman with diabetes presented with crusted plaques and ulcers that were painful, diffuse, and erythematous to crusted and on only the left side of her face, neck, and upper chest. She was referred to our hospital from a local clinic, where herpes zoster had been suspected. She had no specific systemic symptoms. Histological examination of the skin lesion revealed granulomatous reactions and purple to reddish encapsulated spores. Cryptococcus neoformans was identified in fungal culture, and hospitalization was recommended. Oral fluconazole was prescribed, and she was admitted to another hospital. After 2 weeks, the patient's condition deteriorated, and she was transferred to our hospital. C. neoformans antigen was detected in the blood and urine during the evaluation for systemic involvement. The patient was treated with intravenous amphotericin B and fluconazole; however, she died 10 days after admission. Cutaneous manifestations of disseminated cryptococcosis can appear in various forms and mimic molluscum contagiosum, Kaposi's sarcoma, and cellulitis. In this case, the skin lesions occurred on only the left side of the face, neck, and chest, as in herpes zoster. Cutaneous cryptococcosis can occur before the onset of symptoms of systemic involvement; therefore, diagnosis is important. Systemic evaluation may reveal early markers of disseminated cryptococcosis.
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