Dupilumab for eosinophilic esophagitis
Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder ( in which eosinophils, a type of white blood cell) are found in the tissue of the esophagus. Common symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis include difficulty swallowing, difficulty eating, and food getting stuck in the esophagus. The FDA has approved the use of dupilumab for eosinophilic esophagitis in adults and pediatric patients (12 years and older weighing at least 40 kilograms). The efficacy and safety of Dupilumab in eosinophilic esophagitis were studied in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, that included two 24-week treatment periods (Part A and Part B) that were conducted independently in separate groups of patients. In Part A and Part B, patients received…
Dupilumab for Asthma
The current treatment of asthma mainly includes the use of glucocorticoids and beta-agonists. However, these treatments have poor controllability for moderate-to-severe asthma and it also produces several side effects in their long-term use. These limitations had led to the development of dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody, that inhibits IL-4 and IL-13 (receptors), which causes inflammatory diseases like eczema and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. It has a potential role in the treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on October 19, 2018 Let’s look at some studies on how dupilumab can be an effective treatment for asthma: 1. Extensive clinical trials have been…
Dupilumab for Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps
Dupilumab is a biologic drug that inhibits IL-4 and IL-13 (receptors), which are the major factors of type 2 inflammatory diseases like asthma, eczema, and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. It is the first biological therapy to be approved for the treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) in the EU and the USA. A case study showed that the addition of dupilumab (300 mg every 2 weeks) to the corticosteroid treatment of adults with severe, inadequately controlled CRSwNP improved: Nasal polyp size Sinus opacification and health-related quality of life It relieved nasal congestion or obstruction, nasal discharge, and loss of smell which are the major symptoms of CRSwNP.…
Dupilumab for eczema – Is it really the cure for inflammatory diseases?
What is Dupilumab? Dupilumab (also known as Dupixent) is used to treat severe atopic eczema. It is a biologic drug and works in a way that is different from the other drugs used for treating eczema. They are taken in different ways like – injection (just below the skin, in the vein) and also orally. Dupilumab is the first biologic drug used to treat eczema and it comes as a ready-to-use syringe with a needle or it will be a pre-filled injector pen. There are other biologic treatments currently being developed to treat atopic eczema. How does Dupilumab work? Our body uses chemical messengers called interleukins (ILs) and it allows…
Dupilumab for Bullous Pemphigoid
Dupilumab is a biologic drug that can treat moderate to severe eczema, asthma, and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. It is also used to treat a skin disease called Bullous pemphigoid (BP). BP is an autoimmune skin disease that results in the formation of pruritic blisters and it mainly affects older people. Let’s look at some case studies on how dupilumab can be an effective treatment for bullous pemphigoid: 1. A case study consisted of 13 patients (average age of 76.8 years) and the average duration of BP before dupilumab initiation was 28.8 months. After the initiation of dupilumab, a satisfactory response was achieved in 92.3% (12 of 13) of the patients.…
All the Side effects of dupilumab explained
Dupilumab is a biologic drug used to treat moderate to severe eczema. It is also used to treat long-term rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and moderate to severe eosinophilic asthma. Side effects explained: 1. Joint pain Some people may experience joint pain while receiving Dupilumab. But, a study said that people who took Dupilumab for rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps only had this side effect and it was not very common. What to do if you have joint pain while receiving dupilumab? Applying hot or cold packs. Try swimming, it can help with joint pains and does not strain the body. If you have really bad joint pain, then it is best to consult…
Topical calcineurin inhibitors for eczema
What are topical calcineurin inhibitors? Topical calcineurin inhibitors work by altering the immune system and it helps to treat atopic eczema. There are two types of topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs): Tacrolimus ointment (Protopic) used for treating moderate to severe eczema. Pimecrolimus cream (Elidel) used for treating mild to moderate eczema. Topical calcineurin inhibitors are used to treat atopic eczema in adults and children over 2 who don’t respond or who cannot tolerate conventional therapies such as topical steroids. They are used to treat and prevent flares. When can topical calcineurin inhibitors be used? TCIs are suitable for delicate areas of the skin, such as the face, eyelids, neck, skin folds,…