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

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.