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. 2022 Nov 23;58(12):1708.
doi: 10.3390/medicina58121708.

Effect of Dupilumab on Sexual Desire in Adult Patients with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis

Maddalena Napolitano  1 , Gabriella Fabbrocini  2 , Sara Kastl  3 , Teresa Battista  2 , Adriana Di Guida  2 , Fabrizio Martora  2 , Vincenzo Picone  2 , Virginia Ventura  2 , Cataldo Patruno  4
Affiliations

Effect of Dupilumab on Sexual Desire in Adult Patients with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis

Maddalena Napolitano et al. Medicina (Kaunas). .

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory condition causing itching skin, with a significant psychosocial impact on patients and relatives. AD affects 15 to 30% of children and 2 to 10% of adults. AD significantly affects patients' quality of life (QoL) given the chronicity and symptoms of the disease. Most AD patients have reported that the disease affects daily life, resulting in limited social contact and a strong impact on sexual health (SH), especially in moderate-severe cases. Materials and methods: We performed a prospective study from 1 May 2020 to 1 May 2022; the aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of moderate to severe AD on sexual desire, seduction, and partner relationships, and describe how it varies following dupilumab therapy. We used the Sexual Desire Inventory-2 (SDI-2), a validated instrument consisting of 14 items; moreover, we used a second questionnaire with eight items, an unvalidated instrument created specifically for this study, to obtain the assessment of the influence of AD on the body image, sexuality, and self-perception of those affected. Results and Conclusions: The impact of AD on sexual desire assessed using SDI-2 showed a significant improvement in both sexes during dupilumab treatment from the baseline to W4 and W16. Similar results were obtained with our questionnaire.

Keywords: SDI-2; atopic dermatitis; sexual disfunction.

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Conflict of interest statement

M.N. has acted as speaker, consultant, and advisory board member for Sanofi, Abbvie, Leo Pharma, Novartis, and EliLilly; G.F. has served as the principal investigator in clinical trials sponsored by and/or and has received personal fees from AbbVie, Abiogen, Almirall, Celgene, EliLilly, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Sanofi, and UCB; C.P. has acted as investigator, speaker, consultant, and advisory board member for AbbVie, Amgen, EliLilly, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, and Sanofi. The other authors declare to not have any conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Unvalidated questionnaire on sexual health administered to 328 patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean variation in EASI, P-NRS, and DLQI from baseline to week 4 and week 16. Mean values of Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), Pruritus Numerical Rating Score (P-NRS), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) of study population at baseline and after 4 weeks (W4) and W16 of dupilumab treatment. Statistical significance was assessed by the Mann–Whitney test and Fisher test: *** p < 0.0001.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Box plot for EASI, P-NRS, and DLQI relative variations from baseline to week 16 in adult patients treated with dupilumab. EASI: Eczema Area and Severity Index; P-NRS: Pruritus Numerical Rating Score; DLQI: Dermatology Life Quality Index.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Mean variation in SDI-2 from baseline to week 4 and week 16 during dupilumab treatment. (b) Box plot for SDI-2 relative variations from baseline to week 4 and 16 in adult patients treated with dupilumab. (b) Mean values of Sexual Desire Inventory-2 (SDI-2) of study population at baseline and after 4 weeks (W4) and W16 of dupilumab treatment. Statistical significance was assessed by the Mann–Whitney test and Fisher test: *** p < 0.0001, ** p < 0.001,.
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