Real-Life Experience of Tralokinumab for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Severe Atopic Dermatitis: A Multicentric Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Tralokinumab, the first fully human monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to interleukin-13, was safe and effective for treating atopic dermatitis (AD) in clinical trials, but real-life experience is still limited. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tralokinumab in severe AD in a real-life multicenter prospective cohort. METHODS: Adult patients with severe AD were enrolled between January 2022 and July 2022 and received tralokinumab subcutaneously for 16 weeks. Objective and subjective scores were collected at baseline, weeks 6 and 16. Adverse events were reported throughout the study. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were included. An improvement of at least 75% on the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI 75) was achieved in 66.7% of patients at week 16. The median objective and subjective scores at week 16 were significantly (p < 0.001) lower than those at baseline. Combination with cyclosporine was sometimes necessary at the beginning of treatment, and addition of upadacitinib was required for some patients with very severe disease during the treatment. The most frequent adverse events were flares of eczema (23.8%) and reactions at injection site (19.0%). No cases of conjunctivitis were reported. Four patients (19.0%) discontinued treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Tralokinumab is an effective first-line biotherapy for severe AD. However, therapeutic response may be progressive. Safety data were reassuring. Atopic dermatitis flares or reactions at the injection site may lead to discontinuation of treatment. A history of conjunctivitis on dupilumab is not a contraindication to the initiation of tralokinumab.

The impact of acne treatment on quality of life and self-esteem: A prospective cohort study from Lebanon.

BACKGROUND: Acne is highly prevalent among teenagers and young adults, with proven negative psychological and emotional impact. To our knowledge, no study has been conducted to quantify the repercussions of acne on quality of life (QoL) and self-esteem in Lebanon. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to highlight the effect of acne treatment on QoL and self-esteem of Lebanese adolescents and young adults. METHODS: In this observational prospective study, patients between 15 and 40 years old with moderate-to-severe acne were allocated to one of two treatment groups (isotretinoin vs. systemic antibiotics combined with topical treatments) and followed for a period of 6 months. The effect of acne on QoL was measured using the Dermatology Life Quality Index, Cardiff Acne Disability Index, and Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale before treatment initiation (T1), after 3 months (T2), and after 6 months (T3). A multivariate analysis of covariance model was used. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were included, of whom 79% were female and 61.3% had moderate acne. Fifty-five percent of patients were treated with systemic antibiotics combined with topical treatments, and 45% received isotretinoin. Mean scores of Cardiff Acne Disability Index, Dermatology Life Quality Index, and Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale at T1 were comparable between the two groups. A significant improvement was noticed in both groups at T2 and T3. The multivariate analysis of covariance model showed an interaction of time and age that concerned 25- to 40-year-old patients in both groups, who were the most negatively affected by acne at T1 and improved the most at T3. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the equivalence between acne treatments in improving QoL and revealed the social obstacle that acne creates and its recrudescence in the subgroup of women of childbearing age.

Pediatric drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms: A systematic review of the literature, with a focus on relapsing cases.

BACKGROUND: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe cutaneous adverse drug reaction with systemic symptoms. This study aims to investigate clinical features, causative drugs, and available treatments for pediatric DRESS, particularly for relapsing cases. METHODS: A systematic search of the English and French literature on pediatric DRESS was conducted using the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane collaboration databases. Confirmed cases of pediatric DRESS fulfilling the RegiSCAR diagnostic criteria with a probable or a definite diagnosis were included. RESULTS: After full-text article review, 144 articles were included, representing a total of 354 pediatric patients with a mean age of 8.8 years. The mean time from the drug intake until the onset of the first symptom was 18.9 days. Antiepileptic drugs were the main trigger, followed by anti-infectious agents. Relapsing DRESS was reported in 17 children. In comparison to non-relapsing cases, relapsing patients had more comorbidities. The initial clinical presentation was more commonly erythroderma. Facial edema, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes in more than two sites were more commonly found in relapsing cases. Systemic steroids were more frequently administered. CONCLUSION: Pediatric DRESS is a potentially severe adverse drug reaction. Antiepileptic agents are the most common causative agents. Fever, facial edema, lymph node enlargement, and pharyngeal and visceral involvement predicted DRESS reactivation in children. Corticosteroids were the mainstay of treatment.

Triggers, clinical manifestations, and management of pediatric erythema multiforme: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Erythema multiforme (EM) is an acute inflammatory mucocutaneous condition. EM is rarely described in children and infants. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the triggers, clinical manifestations, and treatment of pediatric EM. METHODS: Systematic literature review of pediatric EM. RESULTS: After full-text article review, we included 113 articles, representing 580 patients. The mean age was 5.6 years, ranging 0.1-17 years. Infectious agents were the main triggers: herpes simplex virus (HSV) in 104 patients (17.9%) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in 91 patients (15.7%). In total, 140 cases (24.1%) were drug-related and 89 cases (15.3%) had other triggers, such as vaccines (19 patients, 3.2%). In total, 229 patients had EM major (39.5%). Treatment was supportive care only (180 patients, 31.1%), systemic corticosteroids (115 patients, 19.8%), antivirals (85 patients, 14.6%), and antibiotics (66 patients, 11.3%), mostly macrolides (45 patients, 7.7%). Long-term sequelae were rare (1.3%). Pediatric EM was reported in 19 infants (3.2%). The main trigger was vaccination (9 patients). Infantile EM was EM major in 2 cases and EM minor in 17. Infants were less prone to develop EM major than older children (P < .01). Pediatric EM was recurrent in 83 cases (14.3%), which was triggered by HSV in 36 patients (61%). Recurrence affected older children. LIMITATIONS: Potential confusion between Steven Johnson syndrome and EM major in addition to publication bias. CONCLUSION: Pediatric EM is a rare disease, mainly triggered by infections. This condition can affect all mucosal surfaces, most commonly the oral mucosae. The diagnosis is clinical, and management relies on supportive care. Vaccines are a particular trigger in infants. Recurrent cases are most commonly linked to HSV. Dermatologists and pediatricians should be aware of this potentially recurrent and severe condition.