Severe atopic dermatitis in childhood in the era of personalized medicine

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, non-infectious inflammatory dermatosis, with increasing prevalence in recent decades. Due to its chronic and recurrent nature, it diminishes the quality of life of patients and their families. In recent years, advances in the understanding of AD’s pathophysiology have driven the development of targeted therapies such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) which modulate the immune system through specific signaling pathways, providing effective alternatives to traditional systemic immunosuppressive agents. Four targeted therapies have been approved in the USA for the treatment of severe/refractory cases: dupilumab, tralokinumab, abrocitinib, and upadacitinib. This manuscript aims to present an update on the pathophysiology of AD, describe the new treatments available, and provide an analysis of the initial results of the use of these treatments in the pediatric population. We concluded that the high cost of these treatments often limits their prescription to situations where cases of atopic dermatitis are resistant to other conventional therapeutic options or when the disease reaches a severe degree. This underscores the importance of careful and accurate decision-making in the medical management of AD to ensure the efficient use of these therapeutic resources.