Substance P Antagonist Aprepitant Shows no Additive Effect Compared with Standardized Topical Treatment Alone in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis

Acta Derm Venereol. 2018 Mar 13;98(3):324-328. doi: 10.2340/00015555-2852.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, itchy, inflammatory skin disorder that may worsen due to stress and anxiety. Tachykinins have been suggested to be involved in the inflammation in AD, as well as pruritus. Aprepitant is a NK-1 receptor antagonist. This open randomized trial evaluated the effect of aprepitant added to topical treatment in adult patients with moderate-severe AD. The treatment group (n = 19) received 80 mg/day aprepitant for 7 days as a supplement to standardized topical treatment with a moderately strong steroid and a moisturizer. The control group (n = 20) received topical treatment alone. Patients were monitored for the extent of the disease (using SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis; SCORAD), pruritus, and scratching movements. In both the aprepitant-treated and the control groups there was a decrease in SCORAD, pruritus and scratching movements. However, there was no significant additional improvement in any of these parameters in the aprepitant-treated group compared with the control group.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Adult
  • Antipruritics / administration & dosage*
  • Antipruritics / adverse effects
  • Aprepitant
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / diagnosis
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / drug therapy*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / metabolism
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Morpholines / administration & dosage*
  • Morpholines / adverse effects
  • Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists / administration & dosage*
  • Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Pruritus / diagnosis
  • Pruritus / drug therapy*
  • Pruritus / metabolism
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Skin / drug effects*
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Skin / pathology
  • Substance P / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Substance P / metabolism
  • Sweden
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antipruritics
  • Morpholines
  • Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Aprepitant
  • Substance P