Table II.
Effectiveness of dupilumab, methotrexate, and ciclosporin according to skin type
| Baseline score | Follow-up score | P value† | Δ score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dupilumab | ||||
| EASI | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 24.2 (13.0) | 7.5 (7.1) | <.001 | 16.7 (13.0) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 18.0 (13.0) | 8.3 (7.5) | <.001 | 9.7 (11.0) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .032 | |||
| POEM | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 20.2 (6.0) | 10.1 (6.0) | <.001 | 10.1 (6.4) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 19.9 (5.7) | 10.5 (6.8) | <.001 | 9.4 (6.8) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .33 | |||
| DLQI | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 15.6 (6.8) | 6.2 (7.6) | <.001 | 9.4 (8.5) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 14.1 (6.7) | 5.7 (5.7) | <.001 | 8.4 (7.3) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .54 | |||
| NRS | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 6.9 (1.8) | 3.5 (2.2) | <.001 | 3.4 (2.3) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 7.2 (2.3) | 3.4 (2.7) | <.001 | 3.7 (3.0) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .99 | |||
| Methotrexate | ||||
| EASI | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 12.9 (9.2) | 7.2 (3.9) | .048 | 5.7 (7.4) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 19.0 (13.2) | 7.9 (5.8) | .019 | 11.0 (14.7) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .52 | |||
| POEM | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 13.8 (9.5) | 10.5 (7.8) | .32 | 3.2 (8.5) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 18.5 (9.6) | 10.9 (6.8) | .007 | 7.5 (8.4) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .19 | |||
| DLQI | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 9.9 (6.9) | 5.0 (3.5) | .051∗ | 4.9 (5.9) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 12.6 (8.3) | 7.0 (7.5) | .011 | 5.6 (6.0) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .26 | |||
| NRS | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 5.2 (3.1) | 3.8 (2.3) | .17 | 1.3 (2.1) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 5.9 (2.9) | 3.2 (2.2) | .037 | 2.7 (3.2) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .74 | |||
| Ciclosporin | ||||
| EASI | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 23.2 (14.7) | 10.3 (14.4) | .054∗ | 12.9 (8.3) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 21.3 (8.5) | 8.2 (11.4) | <.001 | 13.1 (6.9) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .98 | |||
| POEM | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 19.8 (9.3) | 13.5 (8.4) | .29 | 6.2 (9.7) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 19.6 (6.4) | 8.0 (9.3) | .008 | 11.6 (9.9) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .39 | |||
| DLQI | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 16.2 (9.0) | 6.8 (7.3) | .12 | 9.5 (8.7) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 13.8 (5.7) | 3.1 (2.4) | <.001 | 10.7 (5.9) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .36 | |||
| NRS | ||||
| Mean score dark skin type (SD) | 7.2 (2.2) | 5.0 (2.9) | .25 | 2.2 (3.2) |
| Mean score light skin type (SD) | 7.1 (2.2) | 2.4 (2.5) | .005 | 4.7 (3.7) |
| P-value Δ difference‡ | .63 |
Mean scores (SD) for dark and light skin type at baseline and follow-up (6 months dupilumab, 6 months methotrexate, 3 months ciclosporin), and the corresponding differences for each skin type. Δ-score: reduction in score between baseline and follow-up.
Significant P values displayed in bold.
The minimal clinically important difference for improvement is a decrease of 6.6 points for EASI, 3.4 points for POEM, 3.3 points for DLQI, and 2.7 points for NRS pruritus.
DLQI, Dermatology Life Quality Index (0-30); EASI, Eczema Area and Severity Index (0-72); NRS, Numerical Rating Scale (0-10); POEM, Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (0-28).
Borderline significant.
Paired t-tests for comparison between baseline and follow-up. Number of patients per treatment group: dupilumab: dark: n = 35, light: n = 90; methotrexate: dark: n = 10, light: n = 15; ciclosporin: dark: n = 4, light: n = 11.
The P-value Δ difference between the Δ-scores for light and dark skin type was assessed according to a multivariable linear model, corrected for age, baseline score, follicular eczema, allergic contact dermatitis and previous use of phototherapy.