Dupilumab may provide meaningful relief for patients with chronic kidney disease who experience uremic pruritus and for those with atopic dermatitis complicated by renal impairment, according to a retrospective real-world study.
Pruritus is a frequent and burdensome symptom in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and often lacks effective therapeutic options. Investigators retrospectively analyzed outcomes in 12 patients with atopic dermatitis and chronic kidney disease and 10 patients with uremic pruritus who were treated with dupilumab. Effectiveness was assessed using the Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale and the 5-D itch scale at multiple time points up to week 16, with additional assessments of skin severity and disease control in the atopic dermatitis group.
Both patient groups demonstrated significant reductions in pruritus following treatment initiation. Improvements in itch scores were apparent as early as week 2 and continued through week 16. By week 4, more than half of participants achieved a clinically meaningful improvement in itch, and these benefits were sustained across the study period. Importantly, the magnitude of benefit observed in patients with uremic pruritus was comparable to that seen in patients with atopic dermatitis and chronic kidney disease, with no significant differences between the groups.
Among patients with atopic dermatitis and chronic kidney disease, skin symptoms also improved. At week 16, two thirds of these patients achieved at least a 75% reduction in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores. In both groups, dupilumab was well tolerated, with no significant adverse effects recorded throughout the observation period.
These findings highlight dupilumab as a potential safe and effective option for managing chronic kidney disease-related pruritus, a symptom that can significantly affect quality of life. The comparable efficacy across distinct patient populations underscores its potential utility in nephrology and dermatology practice.
Reference: Wang Q et al. Dupilumab relieves pruritus both in uremic pruritus and in atopic dermatitis with chronic kidney disease: a retrospective real-world study. Front Med (Lausanne). 2025;12:1627955.
