ABSTRACT
Aging individuals can develop generalized, exquisitely-pruritic, eczematous eruptions of uncertain etiology that can be therapeutically-refractory and life-altering. Limited information exists in the literature to guide clinicians in the diagnosis and management of such patients. It is suggested that in approximately 40% of such patients a known cause for their chronic pruritic eruptions cannot be identified. In this report we will refer to this subgroup of patients as having idiopathic chronic eczematous eruption of aging (CEEA). Idiopathic CEEA must be distinguished from other established eczematous dermatoses. Idiopathic CEEA patients often require long-term systemic immunosuppressive drugs to make living bearable. Elder-onset atopic dermatitis is the most difficult of the known dermatoses to distinguish from idiopathic CEEA. Because of their clinical similarities we questioned whether dupilumab (Dupixent®), the first FDA-approved biologic for atopic dermatitis, might be valuable in the management of idiopathic CEEA. We report the case of an elderly man with idiopathic CEEA of four-years' duration who had a complete clinical response to the initiation of treatment with dupilumab. This case is presented to stimulate more discussion and systematic study of a possible role for dupilumab in otherwise-refractory idiopathic CEEA patients. We also propose a set of diagnostic criteria for idiopathic CEEA.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use , Eczema/drug therapy , Interleukin-4/antagonists & inhibitors , Aged , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized , Chronic Disease , Diagnosis, Differential , Eczema/diagnosis , Humans , Injections, Subcutaneous , MaleABSTRACT
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive cutaneous tumor with a predilection for the head and neck of elderly Caucasian patients. Although much less common than melanoma, MCC has higher rates of sentinel lymph node involvement, local and regional recurrences, and mortality. The majority of MCC cases have been linked to the relatively newly discovered Merkel cell polyomavirus, which is a ubiquitous constituent of the skin flora. Recent discoveries regarding viral integration and carcinogenesis and the immunologic features of MCC have expanded the understanding of MCC. These discoveries have led to the development and application of emerging therapies such as somatostatin analogs, immune checkpoint inhibition, adoptive cell therapy, and other exciting possibilities for targeted therapy.