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Atopic dermatitis: the new frontier
Author(s) -
Harris Victoria R,
Cooper Alan J
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/mja17.00463
Subject(s) - medicine , atopic dermatitis , calcineurin , azathioprine , tacrolimus , apremilast , dermatology , immunology , methotrexate , pimecrolimus , clinical trial , immune system , dupilumab , disease , psoriasis , transplantation , psoriatic arthritis
Summary Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory skin condition in adults and children. AD is a chronic disease that has a considerable negative impact on the quality of life of patients and their families. Most cases of AD may be effectively treated with topical therapies that are directed at decreasing cutaneous inflammation and alleviating pruritus. These therapies include emollients, antihistamines, topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors and antimicrobial and antiseptic measures; more refractory cases may require additional oral immunosuppression (eg, cyclosporine, azathioprine, methotrexate and mycophenolate). Improved understanding of the immune pathogenesis of AD, including the role of T helper cells and the inflammatory pathways involved, has led to breakthrough translational clinical research and treatment. New targeted immunotherapies, such as inhibitors of interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐13, IL‐31, Janus associated kinase and phosphodiesterase, have had promising results from phase 2 and 3 trials for patients with moderate to severe AD.