Introduction
The landscape of atopic dermatitis has evolved rapidly in recent years. The introduction of crisaborole, a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, enables clinicians to offer another nonsteroidal topical therapy to patients with mild to moderate disease. The approval of dupilumab—an interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 inhibitor and the first biologic to become available for the treatment of atopic dermatitis—has revolutionized the therapy of adults with moderate to severe disease. The options for patients across the spectrum of disease severity are likely to expand further in the next few years. Multiple topical and systemic agents, with different mechanisms of action, are in phase 2 development.
A growing body of data has revealed the extent of the impact of atopic dermatitis on patients’ lives. For many, the ever-present itch leads to frequent sleep disruption, which affects the ability to function at work or school. Depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as non-atopic and atopic comorbidities, are more common among those with atopic dermatitis. Understanding our patients’ experience of the disease can inform patient-clinician discussions about treatment goals and regimens that address patient concerns. As with any chronic illness, patients play a key role in the management of atopic dermatitis. Programs to educate patients about their disease and how to use the prescribed treatment—including provision of a short, written action plan—have improved disease severity and quality of life.
Research also is advancing in the management of food allergy and infection, two comorbidities common among patients with atopic dermatitis. Studies have documented the benefits of introducing peanuts to the diet early, even to children at high risk for peanut allergy. The skin microbiome of those with atopic dermatitis differs from that of individuals without the disease, raising the question of whether those with atopic dermatitis have insufficient “good” bacteria to control the growth of potential skin pathogens. Early-stage research is examining the value of removing and amplifying patients’ beneficial bacteria, then returning it to the patients’ skin in the hopes that it will reduce Staphyloccocus aureus colonization.
Good skin care and topical corticosteroids and topical calcineurin inhibitors remain important components of therapy. These basics, along with the newest treatment, patient education, and shared decision-making, can improve disease control and quality of life for patients.
Emerging Science and Management of Atopic Dermatitis
This journal supplement is intended for dermatologists, pediatricians, family practitioners, internists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other clinicians who treat patients with atopic dermatitis.
Supported by an educational grant from:
Pfizer Inc.
Activity Information
EXPIRED
Original Release Date: December 2017
Expiration Date: December 31, 2018
Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 1.75 hours
EXPIRED
Participants should read the activity information, review the activity in its entirety, and complete the online post-test and evaluation. Upon completing this activity as designed and achieving a passing score on the post-test, you will be directed to a Web page that will allow you to receive your certificate of credit via e-mail or you may print it out at that time.The online post-test and evaluation can be accessed at http://tinyurl.com/atopicdermsupl2017.
Inquiries about CME accreditation may be directed to the University of Louisville Office of Continuing Medical Education & Professional Development (CME & PD) at [email protected] or (502) 852-5329.
Faculty
 | Lawrence F. Eichenfield, MD |
 | Linda F. Stein Gold, MD |
 | Wynnis L. Tom, MD |
Accreditation Statements
Physicians: This activity has been planned and implemented in accor- dance with the requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the University of Louisville and Global Academy for Medical Education, LLC. The University of Louisville is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The University of Louisville Office of Continuing Medical Education & Professional Development designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses: Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited with distinction as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.This educational activity for 1.6 contact hour is provided by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine. Designated for 0.8 contact hours of pharmacotherapy credit for Advance Practice Nurses.
Educational Needs
Recent research into the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis has yielded two new treatments—the first ones to receive US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for management of this condition in more than a decade. Both new therapies offer novel mechanisms of action. Crisaborole, a topical medi- cation that inhibits the phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) enzyme, is approved for the treatment of mild to moderate disease in adults and children as young as 2 years old. Dupilumab, the first biologic therapy approved for use in atopic dermatitis, inhibits interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. It is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe disease in adults whose disease is inadequately controlled with topical prescription therapies, or when those therapies are inadvisable.
Awareness of the substantial impact atopic dermatitis can have on quality of life can facilitate patient-clinician conversations about treatment goals. Such discussions may influence shared decision-making about therapeutic choices.
Therapeutic patient education has been applied to a variety of conditions and is now being studied in atopic dermatitis.
Food allergy and infection represent common comorbidities in patients with atopic dermatitis. New information about the benefit of the early introduction of peanuts to the diet has surfaced in recent years. Alterations in the skin microbiome may underlie the association of colonization and infection in atopic dermatitis. Preliminary research attempts to deploy the atopic patient’s “good” bacteria to reduce Staphylococcus aureus colonization.
Brief, expert reviews of the literature in these areas can help busy providers stay current in a rapidly evolving field, and can facilitate the translation of research into clinical practice to improve outcomes.
Learning Objectives
By reading and studying this supplement, participants should be better able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of how atopic dermatitis can affect patient sleep, quality of life, daily activities, risk of comorbidities, and health care utilization/cost
- Explain the mechanism of action and clinical trials data supporting recently approved treatments for atopic dermatitis
- Discuss investigation therapies for atopic dermatitis
- Apply recent recommendations for evaluation of candidates for systemic treatment of atopic dermatitis
- Explain the benefit of providing patients with a written action plan
- Analyze the relationships of food allergy and infection to atopic dermatitis.
Disclosure Declarations
Individuals in a position to control the content of this educational activity are required to disclose: 1) the existence of any relevant financial relationship with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients with the exemption of non-profit or government organizations and non-health care related companies, within the past 12 months; and 2) the identification of a commercial product/device that is unlabeled for use or an investigational use of a product/device not yet approved.
Lawrence F. Eichenfield, MD, Advisory Board/Speaker: Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC. Consultant: Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Inc., Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc./Medimetriks Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Sanofi Genzyme/Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, TopMD, Valeant. Investigator: Sanofi Genzyme/Regeneron.
Linda F. Stein Gold, MD, Consultant: Pfizer. Grant/Research: GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. Data Monitoring Committee: Otsuka.
Wynnis L. Tom, MD, Consultant: Pfizer. Grant/Research: Pfizer, Celgene Corporation, Pfizer, and Regeneron.
University of Louisville CME & PD Advisory Board and Staff Disclosures:
The CME & PD Advisory Board and Staff have nothing to disclose.
CME/CE Reviewers: University of Louisville Cindy England Owen, MD, has nothing to disclose. The Postgraduate Institute of Medicine planners and managers Trace Hutchison, PharmD; Samantha Mattiucci, PharmD, CHCP; Judi Smelker-Mitchek, MBA, MSN, RN; and Jan Schultz, MSN, RN, CHCP, have nothing to disclose.
Global Academy for Medical Education Staff: Eileen McCaffrey, MA; Tristan M. Nelsen, MNM, CMP, HMCC; Sylvia H. Reitman, MBA, DipEd; and Ron Schaumburg have nothing to disclose.
Off-Label/Investigational Use Disclosure
This CME/CE activity discusses the off-label use of certain approved medica- tions as well as data from clinical trials on investigational agents. Any such material is identified within the text of the articles.
This continuing medical education (CME/CE) supplement was developed from a satellite symposium held at the Skin Disease Education Foundation’s 18th Annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar, November 3, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Guest Editors acknowledge the editorial assistance of Global Academy for Medical Education and Eileen McCaffrey, MA, medical writer, in the development of this supplement. The manuscript was reviewed and approved by the Guest Editors as well as the Editors of Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. The ideas and opinions expressed in this supplement are those of the Guest Editors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the supporter, Global Academy for Medical Education, the University of Louisville, Postgraduate Institute for Medicine, or the Publisher.
Disclosures
Publication of this CME/CE article was jointly provided by University
of Louisville, Postgraduate Institute for Medicine, and Global Academy for Medical Education, LLC, and is supported by an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. Dr Eichenfield has received an honorarium for his participation in this activity. He acknowledges the editorial assistance of Eileen McCaffrey, MA, medical writer, and Global Academy for Medical Education in the development of this continuing medical education journal article.
F. Eichenfield, MD, Advisory Board/Speaker: Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC. Consultant: Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Inc., Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc./ Medimetriks Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer, Sanofi Genzyme/Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, TopMD, Valeant. Investigator: Sanofi Genzyme/Regeneron.
Address reprint requests to: Lawrence F. Eichenfield, MD, Rady Children’s Hospital, 8010 Frost Street, Suite 602, San Diego, CA 92123; [email protected]