Abstract

To investigate the clinical efficacy of dupilumab injection in combination with systemic low-dose hormones in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid. 60 patients with bullous pemphigoid were included and the treatment plan is determined by the patient's condition, fully informed to the patient, and jointly decided upon with the consent of the patient and family. 35 patients were treated with conventional systemic low-dose hormone therapy and were classified as the control group and 25 patients were treated with dupilumab injection in combination with systemic low-dose hormone therapy and were classified as the study group. Patients in both groups received topical wet compresses on the rash area and topical hormone-based creams during their hospitalization. The time to control disease activity, the dose of the hormones at disease control, the cumulative dose of the hormones at disease control, laboratory indices, pruritus level score, bullous pemphigoid activity level score and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. The time to control disease activity was shorter in study group than in control group (p<0.05). The dose of the hormones at disease control and the cumulative dose of the hormones at disease control in study group were smaller than in control group (p<0.05). After 4 w of treatment, the peripheral blood eosinophil count, serum anti-bullous pemphigoid 180 antibody concentration, serum interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 levels, total serum immunoglobulin E concentrations, bullous pemphigoid activity score and pruritus level score were significantly lower in study group than in control group (p<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was lower in study group than in control group (p<0.05). Dupilumab injection in combination with systemic low-dose hormones is safe and effective in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid, and it can provide more options for the clinical management of patients with bullous pemphigoid.