Selective inhibition of JAK1 in treatment of atopic dermatitis: Prescription features and experience with upadacitinib

Abstract

Therapy of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with a number of diffculties due to the propensity of the disease to a chronic relapsing course, the tendency to develop in childhood and young age. However, a new selective JAK1 inhibitor, which suppresses cytokineinduced inflammation in the skin, has been added to the arsenal of AD systemic therapy.Objective. To evaluate the effcacy, antipruritic activity, impact on quality of life, levels of anxiety and depression, and safety of upadacitinib treatment of moderate-to-severe AD in adult patients.Material and methods. The inclusion criteria were the presence of moderate-to-severe AD, age over 18 years, signed informed consent of the patient to participate in the study. Effcacy was assessed based on clinical indices. All patients received upadacitinib (RANVEK) 15 mg once daily with or without food, topical corticosteroids (if needed), and emollients.Results. The number of patients with an IGA score of 0 or 1 was 50%. The dynamics of the maximum intensity of pruritus according to NRS during 16 weeks of therapy was 56.4%. The proportion of patients with an improvement in the assessment of the maximum severity of itching according to NRS ≥3 points at week 16 relative to the baseline was 77.8%. The dynamics of the EASI index in percent was 65.3%, and the number of patients who achieved an EASI-50 response at week 16 was 83.3%, EASI-75 was 61.1%. The dynamics of the overall SCORAD index as a percentage of the initial value for 16 weeks was 76.9%. The DLQI decreased by 68.9%. The number of patients with HADS less than 7 points on a scale of both anxiety and depression was 88.9%.Conclusions. Thus, upadacitinib demonstrates high effcacy in terms of the effect on rashes and pruritus, favorably affects the quality of life and psychosomatic characteristics of patients, and has a favorable safety profle in the treatment of moderate and severe AD in adults.