title: Severe atopic dermatitis and leflunomide: first clinical experience and highlights of pertinent experimental data.
abstract: Atopic dermatitis is a common chronically relapsing disease affecting about 10 percent of children and 3 percent of adults. Currently, no standard management exists for long-term treatment. Topical corticosteroids and recently calcineurin-inhibitors are effective in most patients. In severe cases, however, systemic agents have to be employed. Their use may be limited by unwanted effects or insufficient long-term efficiency. Leflunomide is an immunomodulating and disease-modifying antirheumatic drug with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity, exhibiting an extremely long in vivo half life. Because T cells and eosinophils play an important role in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis, and long-term treatment is often required, leflunomide seems to be ideally suited for treatment of severe atopic eczema. We present a case highlighting the application regimen of leflunomide, and discuss the pathophysiological mechanism of action in atopic dermatitis. Because treatment benefit differs between patients, we propose the design of a proof-of-principle study for leflunomide in atopic dermatitis encompassing an evaluation of predictive markers for successful application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Technical University Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Gottfried
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wozel
authors.forename: Lilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vitéz
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D000077339:Leflunomide