Journal Digest: October 8

Archives of Dermatologic Research: Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Female Infertility: A Pilot Study Conducted Amongst 110 Dermatological Patients

Medianfar et al’s cross-sectional study explored the potential association between hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and infertility, adjusting for factors such as age, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, and sexual function. The study authors surveyed 161 participants, including patients with HS, other dermatological diseases (ODD), and healthy controls (HC). The study found no statistically significant difference in infertility rates between the groups, with 25.5% of patients with HS classified as infertile compared to 18.2% and 15.7% in the ODD and HC groups, respectively. The HS patient group demonstrated higher BMI and smoking prevalence compared to controls. Despite reduced sexual function scores among patients with HS, the number of children across the groups was similar, suggesting that HS may not directly affect fertility. The study authors acknowledged limitations, including a small sample size, and called for larger, multicenter research to further clarify the relationship between HS and infertility, particularly given the trend towards increased infertility risk in patients with HS.¹

Pediatric Dermatology: A Case Series of Refractory Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis Effectively Treated With Dupilumab in Combination WithAbrocitinib

Fong et al’s study evaluated the combination of dupilumab and abrocitinib in pediatric patients with severe, refractory atopic dermatitis (AD) who were unresponsive to conventional and biologic therapies. Three pediatric cases demonstrated that monotherapy with either dupilumab or abrocitinib, or in combination with conventional systemic agents, provided insufficient disease control. However, the combined use of dupilumab and abrocitinib resulted in significant clinical improvement and stabilization of AD, while mitigating common adverse effects such as conjunctivitis and managing comorbid conditions such as alopecia areata. According to the study authors, their findings highlight the potential value of combining dupilumab and abrocitinib, suggesting improved outcomes when dual inhibition of IL-4 and IL-13 pathways is achieved. Fong et al concluded by emphasizing the need for more research to assess long-term efficacy and safety, but that dupilumab and abrocitinib may offer a promising treatment approach for pediatric patients with refractory AD.²

Allergy: Omalizumab is Effective and Safe in Chronic Inducible Urticaria (CIndU): Real-World Data From a Large Multi-National UCARE Study

Soegiharto et al investigated the long-term efficacy and safety of omalizumab in 234 patients with chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) across 14 international centers. Omalizumab, although not indicated for CIndU, showed promising results. A total of 73% of patients achieved complete or good disease control, with a median treatment duration exceeding 5 years. Subtype analysis revealed no significant differences in response rates across CIndU forms, such as cholinergic, cold, or symptomatic dermographism, with overall high efficacy. Discontinuation of omalizumab occurred primarily due to well-controlled disease (47%) rather than ineffectiveness or adverse effects. Older age predicted a longer treatment duration. A fast response within 4 weeks was seen in 38% of patients. Safety outcomes were favorable, with no severe adverse events reported. According to the study authors, their findings support omalizumab as an effective long-term treatment for antihistamine-refractory CIndU, although further research is needed on its underlying mechanisms and comparison among CIndU subtypes.³

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References

1. Medianfar CE, Kursawe Larsen C, Saunte SK, Saunte DML, Jemec GBE, Andersen RK. Hidradenitis suppurativa and female infertility: a pilot study conducted amongst 110 dermatological patients. Arch Dermatol Res. 2024;316(9):649. Published 2024 Sep 28. doi:10.1007/s00403-024-03390-6
2. Fong WCG, Kaung HHW, Lopes R, et al. A case series of refractory pediatric atopic dermatitis effectively treated with dupilumab in combination with abrocitinib. Pediatr Dermatol. Published online October 3, 2024. doi:10.1111/pde.15761
3. Soegiharto R, Alizadeh Aghdam M, Sørensen JA, et al. Omalizumab is effective and safe in chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU): Real-world data from a large multi-national UCARE study. Allergy. Published online October 8, 2024. doi:10.1111/all.16334