English Version of Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis 2021
Hidehisa Saeki, Yukihiro Ohya, Junichi Furuta, Hirokazu Arakawa, Susumu Ichiyama, Toshio Katsunuma, Norito Katoh, Akio Tanaka, Yuichiro Tsunemi, Takeshi Nakahara, Mizuho Nagao, Masami Narita, Michihiro Hide, Takao Fujisawa, Masaki Futamura, Koji Masuda, Tomoyo Matsubara, Hiroyuki Murota, Kiwako Yamamoto‐Hanada
Abstract
This is the English version of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis 2021. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease characterized by relapsing eczema with pruritus as a primary lesion. In Japan, from the perspective of evidence-based medicine, the current strategies for the treatment of AD consist of three primary measures: (i) use of topical corticosteroids, tacrolimus ointment, and delgocitinib ointment as the main treatment of the inflammation; (ii) topical application of emollients to treat the cutaneous barrier dysfunction; and (iii) avoidance of apparent exacerbating factors, psychological counseling, and advice about daily life. In the present revised guidelines, descriptions of three new drugs, namely, dupilumab, delgocitinib, and baricitinib, have been added. The guidelines present recommendations to review clinical research articles, evaluate the balance between the advantages and disadvantages of medical activities, and optimize medical activity-related patient outcomes with respect to several important points requiring decision-making in clinical practice.