Evaluation of upadacitinib efficacy in the treatment of atopic dermatitis of sensitive areas

Introduction: The treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) affecting sensitive areas (head and neck, hands, and genitalia) remains a significant challenge, even with the advent of the current range of biologic therapies. Upadacitinib, a selective inhibitor of the JAK1 enzyme, showed promising results in the treatment of AD located in sensitive areas in clinical trials. The aim of this multicenter observational study was to better characterize the effectiveness of upadacitinib in sensitive areas, using specific clinimetric tools. Methods: In this multicenter observational retrospective and prospective study, we enrolled 74 adult patients (41 women and 37 men, with a mean age of 33.8 years), affected by moderate to severe AD with the involvement of at least one sensitive area, treated with upadacitinib with at least 16 weeks. Results: Over the course of the 52-week study period, upadacitinib demonstrated remarkable efficacy in the reduction of AD symptoms and associated clinical manifestations in sensitive areas. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a significant benefit for patients with AD affecting sensitive areas when treated with upadacitinib, supporting its use first-line therapeutic choice for this specific subset of patients.