Higher Levels of Immunoglobulin E and Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine Are Associated with Conjunctivitis During Lebrikizumab Treatment in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis.

Background

Treatment with anti-interleukin (IL)-13 antibody lebrikizumab is sometimes associated with the occurrence of conjunctivitis in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). However, predictive factors for its occurrence are unknown.

Objective

To identify predictive factors for the occurrence of conjunctivitis during lebrikizumab treatment for AD.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted in 140 Japanese patients with moderate-to-severe AD who received lebrikizumab 500 mg at weeks 0 and 2, followed by 250 mg every 2 weeks until week 16, thereafter every 4 weeks for median 24 (ranging 12-36) weeks. We compared baseline clinical and laboratory indices, and background factors between patients who developed conjunctivitis and those who did not.

Results

Conjunctivitis occurred in 20 patients (14.3%) during lebrikizumab treatment. Patients with conjunctivitis had significantly higher immunoglobulin E (IgE) and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) compared to those without. Logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of conjunctivitis was associated with higher IgE (odds ratio [OR]: 1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-1.0, P = 0.0287) and TARC (OR: 1, 95% CI: 1.0-1.0, P = 0.0441).

Conclusions

Higher IgE and TARC may predict conjunctivitis during lebrikizumab treatment for AD.