Twice-daily application of 0.05% desonide hydrogel significantly improved clinical symptoms of itching and quality of life scores in 100% of patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis after 7 days in a small preliminary study.
"Increasingly, researchers and clinicians recognize that disrupted barrier function contributes not only to the xerotic and pruritic manifestations of AD, but also to the inflammatory cascade that underlies the disease," wrote Dr. Leon Kircik of Indiana University, Indianapolis.
Data from previous studies have shown the effectiveness of desonide hydrogel 0.05% for atopic dermatitis in children, but few studies have examined the effectiveness of the gel on itching in particular. In this study, patients applied the gel twice daily, with assessments at baseline, day 3, and day 7 (J. Drugs Dermatol. 2014;13:725-8).
At day 7, all patients achieved the primary endpoint of at least a 50% reduction in pruritus. The average Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) scale score was .55 (down from 2.35 at baseline), which translated to a 76% improvement from baseline. The visual analog score decreased by an average of 6.4 points, for an average reduction of 85%. Statistically significant improvements from baseline in both IGA and visual analog scores also were noted at day 3, when the average IGA score improved 27% from baseline, and the mean visual analog score showed a 53% reduction.
The study included 20 atopic dermatitis patients ranging in age from 8 to 68 years, with an average age of 25 years; 60% were black, 40% were white, and 75% were female.
The results suggest that hydrogel is an appropriate option to relieve itchiness in AD patients, and a large, randomized, double-blind controlled trial would be helpful to further study effectiveness, Dr. Kircik said.
Dr. Kircik disclosed receiving funding as an investigator, consultant, or speaker for Bayer Dermatology, manufacturer of the product tested.