Dupilumab as a novel therapy for bullous pemphigoid: A multicenter case series

Abstract

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disorder occurring mostly in the elderly that lacks adequate treatments.

Objective: To describe our experience using dupilumab in a series of patients with BP.

Methods: This is a case series of patients from 5 academic centers receiving dupilumab for BP. Patients were eligible if they had a clinical diagnosis of BP confirmed by lesional skin biopsy evaluated by one of more of the following: hematoxylin and eosin staining, direct immunofluorescence, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for BP180 or BP230, or both.

Results: We identified 13 patients. Patients were an average age of 76.8 years, and the average duration of BP before dupilumab initiation was 28.8 months (range, 1-60 months). Disease clearance or satisfactory response was achieved in 92.3% (12 of 13) of the patients. Satisfactory response was defined as clinician documentation of disease improvement and patient desire to stay on the medication without documentation of disease clearance. Total clearance of the BP was achieved in 53.8% (7of 13) of patients No adverse events were reported.

Limitations: Include small sample size, lack of a control group, lack of a standardized assessment tool, and lack of standardized safety monitoring.

Conclusion: Dupilumab may be an additional treatment for BP, leading to disease clearance or satisfactory response in 92.3% of patients, including in those in whom previous conventional therapy had failed.

Keywords: autoimmune blistering diseases; biologics; bullous disorders; bullous pemphigoid; dupilumab; medications; treatment.