Management of Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis in the Era of Targeted Treatments

Prof Augustin opened the symposium by underlining how the management of patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) has become more dynamic over the past 2 years following the approval of the first biologic agent, dupilumab, in 2017. Prof Augustin explained that moderate-to-severe AD is a chronic Type II inflammatory disease that has significant effects on patients’ and caregivers’ lives. The multidimensional disease burden of AD, which includes signs and symptoms that impact physical, mental, social wellbeing, and quality of life (QoL), is proportional to disease severity and lack of disease control. Sustained control of moderate-to-severe AD is essential to limit the burden caused by the disease. In the second presentation, Dr Simpson emphasised the importance of pointing out to each patient that AD is a chronic disease that requires long-term management. When discussing goals and treatment options with each patient, the importance of sustainable disease management should be emphasised. He presented outcomes from recent clinical trials investigating the long-term efficacy and safety of targeted agents in patients with AD. In the final presentation, Dr de Bruin-Weller discussed the importance of real-world evidence when considering treatment options for patients with AD. Real-world evidence for the effectiveness and tolerability of treatments can be gleaned from a number of sources, including registry-based clinical experience, survey data, centre-based clinical experience, and case studies. Consideration of real-world evidence, alongside outcomes from randomised controlled trials, enables selection of the most appropriate treatment option for each patient.