Background: Data illustrating the impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on lives of adults with AD in South Korea are limited. Objective: To assess the AD disease severity and its impact on quality of life (QoL) in patients with AD from South Korea. Methods: Patients with AD utilizing the specialist dermatology services of major hospitals in South Korea were assessed for disease severity using Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score, for QoL using Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (for QoL), and for comorbidities and treatment experience via retrospective review of 12-month medical records. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were also measured. Results: Of the 1,163 patients, 695 (59.8%) were men (mean age [years]±standard deviation: 31.6±12.1). Overall, 52.9% (n=615) patients had moderate-to-severe disease (EASI>7).The QoL of 72.3% (n=840) patients was affected moderately-to-severely (DLQI score: 6~30).Systemic immunosuppressants were used ≥1 over past 12 months in 51.9% (n=603) patients, and the most commonly used were cyclosporines (45.7%, n=531) and systemic corticosteroids (40.5%, n=471). Approximately, 10.8% (n=126) patients consulted or received treatment for AD-related eye problem. Of these, 40% (n=50) patients reported poor, very poor, or completely blind status; approximately, 16.7% patients (n=192) reported having depression or anxiety; and 35.5% (n=410) reported suicidal ideation or suicidal attempt. Conclusion A large proportion of patients had moderate-to-severe AD, a compromised QoL, and ocular or mental health comorbidities, indicating a high disease burden despite systemic treatment. These findings highlight the importance of a holistic approach for the evaluation and treatment of patients with AD.

Background: In 2015, the Korean Atopic Dermatitis Association (KADA) working group published consensus guidelines for treating atopic dermatitis (AD). Objective: We aimed to provide updated consensus recommendations for systemic treatment of AD in South Korea based on recent evidence and experience. Methods: We compiled a database of references from relevant systematic reviews and guidelines on the systemic management of AD. Evidence for each statement was graded and classified based on thestrength of the recommendation. Forty-two council members from the KADA participated in three rounds of voting to establish a consensus on expert recommendations. Results: We do not recommend long-term treatment with systemic steroids forpatients with moderate-to-severe AD due to the risk of adverse effects. We recommend treatment with cyclosporine or dupilumab and selective treatment with methotrexate or azathioprine for patients with moderate-to-severe AD. We suggest treatment with antihistamines as an option for alleviating clinical symptoms of AD. We recommend selective treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B for patients with chronic moderate-to-severe AD. We do not recommend treatment with oral antibiotics for patients with moderate-to-severe AD but who have no signs of infection. We did not reach a consensus on recommendations for treatment with allergen-specific immunotherapy, probiotics, evening primrose oil, orvitamin D for patients with moderate-to-severe AD. We also recommend educational interventions and counselling for patients with AD and caregivers to improve the treatment success rate. Conclusion We look forward to implementing a new and updated consensus of systemic therapy in controlling patients with moderate-to-severe AD.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes of idiopathic epiretinal membrane removal in patients ≥ 80 years of age.METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was performed with 56 patients who underwent vitrectomy and removal of idiopathic epiretinal membrane. In the ≥ 80 years of age group (n = 28), the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) before surgery were compared with those at the final follow-up. The amount of change in the BCVA after surgery was also compared between the ≥ 80 years of age group and the < 80 years of age group (n = 28).RESULTS: In the ≥ 80 years of age group, the mean follow-up period was 19.1 ± 17.0 months. Before surgery, 11 eyes were pseudophakic and 17 eyes were phakic. Combined cataract surgery was performed with epiretinal membrane removal in all 17 phakic eyes. The mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution BCVA was 0.75 ± 0.30 before surgery, which improved to 0.50 ± 0.30 at the final follow-up (p < 0.001). The CMT was 458.0 ± 79.7 µm before surgery, which decreased to 367.2 ± 83.4 µm at the final follow-up (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the amount of change in the BCVA after the surgery between the ≥ 80 years of age group and the < 80 years of age group (p = 0.547).CONCLUSIONS: In patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane who were ≥ 80 years of age, the visual acuity was improved or maintained, and was accompanied with anatomical improvement after epiretinal membrane removal with or without cataract surgery. These results suggest the usefulness of epiretinal membrane removal in older patients.
Cataract ; Epiretinal Membrane ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of BOTULAX® in subjects with essential blepharospasm.METHODS: In this study, a total of 250 subjects with essential blepharospasm were enrolled at 15 investigational sites and a total of 220 subjects completed the study. The efficacy and safety were evaluated at weeks 4 and 16 after treatment compared with baseline. In total, 240 subjects were enrolled, treated with the investigational product, and evaluable for the primary efficacy assessment at week 4 after treatment; these subjects were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. With the ITT set as the main efficacy set, efficacy assessment included Jankovic rating scale (JRS), functional disability score, investigator evaluation of global response and quality of life. Safety assessment including the incidence of adverse events was also performed.RESULTS: In terms of the primary efficacy endpoint (i.e., change in JRS total score at week 4 after treatment from baseline [ITT set]), mean change indicated a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.0001) and demonstrated the non-inferiority of the test drug to similar drugs. In terms of the secondary efficacy endpoints, mean change in JRS total score at week 16 after treatment and mean change in functional disability score at weeks 4 and 16 after treatment both exhibited a statistically significant reduction compared with baseline (p < 0.0001 for all). Among the 249 subjects treated with the investigational product in this study, 44 (17.67%) experienced 76 treatment emergent adverse events but no serious adverse events were observed.CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study results, BOTULAX® is considered to be an effective and safe treatment for essential blepharospasm.

BACKGROUND: Systemic immunomodulatory treatment is actively recommended in the treatment for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. However, consensus criteria for the classification of AD severity or treatment refractoriness have not been established yet. OBJECTIVE: To establish consensus criteria on the definition of severity classification and treatment refractoriness of AD to provide a basis for proper treatment strategy. METHODS: The Korean Atopic Dermatitis Association (KADA) comprised a task force team to establish a definition of moderate to severe AD. A draft of definition of moderate to severe AD was made on the basis of evidence. The recommendation was confirmed by KADA members through a web-based survey. RESULTS: KADA approved that AD with 16≤eczema area and severity index (EASI)<23 should be basically defined as moderate AD whereas AD with EASI score ≥23 should be considered as severe AD. They agreed that it would be reasonable to raise the severity level if patient's daytime or nighttime pruritus numerical rating scale is equal to or higher than 7 (≥7) or dermatology life quality index score exceeds 10. AD patients who do not reach EASI 50 after appropriate treatment for three months should be considered as a non-responder. Patients with recurrence (EASI ≥16) within three months after cessation of treatment should be considered as a recurrent AD. CONCLUSION: KADA built a consensus of definition of moderate and severe AD and treatment-refractoriness. These guidelines are expected to help physicians determine proper treatment options in need.
Advisory Committees ; Classification ; Consensus ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatology ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Pruritus ; Quality of Life ; Recurrence ; Treatment Failure ; Withholding Treatment

BACKGROUND: Topical tacrolimus is an effective anti-inflammatory therapy for acute and chronic states of atopic dermatitis (AD) in both adults and children. Topical tacrolimus has particular use at sensitive areas such as the face, anogenitals, and skin folds of neck and extremities. However, many AD patients also experience aggravated symptoms on trunk. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of topical tacrolimus for AD patients with truncal lesions. METHODS: AD patients with truncal lesions who were aged ≥2 years were recruited from 20 centres in Korea. They received treatment with topical tacrolimus ointment twice daily during 4 weeks. The primary end point was change of the local eczema area and severity index (EASI) of the trunk from baseline to day 28. The secondary end points were changes in the patient global assessment (PGA) score and itch visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the trunk between baseline and day 28. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-one patients were recruited, and 176 patients completed the full 4-week treatment course. By the end of the treatment, the mean local EASI of the trunk (2.2±4.71) was significantly decreased from that at baseline (4.71±4.03, p < 0.001). PGA (1.71±1.15) and itch VAS score of the trunk (2.61±2.19) on day 28 were also profoundly decreased compared with the baseline (2.96±1.07 and 5.15±2.47, respectively). No serious adverse events were observed during the study period. CONCLUSION: Topical tacrolimus is an effective and safe therapy for truncal lesions in AD patients.
Administration, Topical ; Adult ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eczema ; Extremities ; Humans ; Korea ; Neck ; Skin ; Tacrolimus*

BACKGROUND: Healthy skin is an important determinant of the quality of life and physical and mental well-being. The demand for dermatological information is increasing not only in patients with skin diseases, but also in the general population with normal/healthy skin. However, public perception and behavior with regard to skin health among Koreans are not known. OBJECTIVE: To examine public perception and behaviors with regard to skin health in Koreans visiting the Skin Health Expo 2017. METHODS: A total of 597 participants completed a questionnaire that assessed demographics, status, and behavior for skin health and Expo satisfaction. RESULTS: Respondents with higher stress levels and a history of skin diseases showed lower satisfaction with self-skin health. Most participants considered adequate sleep and water intake to be important factors associated with healthy skin. One-on-one consultation with dermatologists was the most satisfactory among participants at the Expo. CONCLUSION: Educational tools using mass media and informative activities such as the Expo planned by dermatologists and the government are necessary to spread awareness and provide proper information to improve skin health in the general population and to emphasize the key role of dermatologists in skin disorders with a social burden.
Demography ; Drinking ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Media ; Quality of Life ; Research Report* ; Skin Diseases ; Skin* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease that affects both children and adults. AD is the cause of considerable morbidity including severe pruritus and impaired quality of life. Treatments for active disease include avoidance of triggering factors, barrier repair, topical medications including topical corticosteroids (TCs) and topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs), phototherapy, antibacterial agents, and systemic immunosuppressants including cyclosporine. Until recently, the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved systemic treatment options for patients with moderate-to-severe AD were steroids and cyclosporine. Systemic steroids are not recommended by current guidelines and are commonly associated with disease rebound. Instead, clinicians choose from several off-label immunosuppressants. In 2018, the Korean FDA approved dupilumab for adults with moderate-to-severe AD whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical therapies. The implementation of treatment guidelines for AD is challenging. Herein, we review the several treatment modalities for AD and recommend a treatment algorithm.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Calcineurin Inhibitors ; Child ; Cyclosporine ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Phototherapy ; Pruritus ; Quality of Life ; Skin Diseases ; Steroids ; United States Food and Drug Administration