Assessing the Clinical Efficacy of Dupilumab and Its Impact on the Quality of Life of Adult Atopic Dermatitis Patients: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody, acts as a dual-action inhibitor that effectively suppresses interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) secretion, which plays an important role in type 2 inflammation. Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects both adults and infants. The primary objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of dupilumab and the quality of life (QOL) of atopic dermatitis adult patients on dupilumab. Although adults experience a lower percentage of AD as compared to children globally, this disease should be addressed to improve the treatment of this condition in adults. The need for the study arises from the fact that there is a dearth of data regarding the efficacy of dupilumab in atopic dermatitis, particularly in the adult population. An extensive search was conducted using PubMed, Turning Research Into Practice (TRIP), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and included studies published between 2018 and 2025 in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines 2020. The Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and Boolean operators used were "Dupilumab" OR "Dermatitis, Atopic". All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this systematic review. Nine full-text articles were ultimately considered, and critical appraisal was performed thereon. Dupilumab at a dose of 300 mg once every two weeks (q2w) and 300 mg once weekly (qw) were effective in treating atopic dermatitis by improving symptoms of pruritus, pain, and depression and preventing the spread of the disease. The quality of life (QOL) improved significantly, and the rate of atopic dermatitis hospitalization decreased after the use of dupilumab.