Dupixent Side Effects Linked To Increased Risk of Transient Blood Eosinophilia: Study
The eczema drug Dupixent may prove to be an effective treatment for severe asthma, but researchers warn that side effects may result in an increase in white blood cells, suggesting that the body is having an allergic reaction to the drug.
An international group of researchers published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 21, which looked at the safety and effectiveness of using Dupixent (dupilumab) in treating glucocorticoid-dependent severe asthma. The study found that using Dupixent lowered patients’ dependence on oral glucocorticoid, but appeared to increase the risk of transient blood eosinophilia; which involves an increase in white blood cells.
Researchers conducted a clinical study involving 210 patients taking oral glucocorticoids for severe asthma, half of whom were treated with a 300 mg dose of Dupixent every two weeks for 24 weeks. The other patients were given a placebo.
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Learn MoreAccording to the findings, the drug lowered the need for steroid use and decreased the rate of severe exacerbations when compared to a placebo. However, 14% of those given Dupixent developed transient blood eosinophilia. This is usually indicative of an allergic reaction, and extended eosinophilia can result in tissue damage and other side effects.
The study also noted that there were more than double the number of injection-site reactions to Dupixent injections than with patients given a placebo.
Researchers said they were not surprised by the findings, as Dupixent is believed to block the migration of eosinophils into tissue.
“The high blood eosinophil counts returned to baseline levels by the end of the dupilumab treatment period,” the researchers noted. “Patients with transient elevations in the blood eosinophil counts did not have concomitant clinical adverse events or consequences. Since glucocorticoids suppress circulating eosinophils, the greater reduction in the oral glucocorticoid dose in the dupilumab group than in the placebo group could also have contributed to the elevations in the eosinophil counts.”
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MJanuary 12, 2023 at 6:38 pm
Last March my husband was prescribed Dupixent for atopic dermatitis. He had been itching for many months and was told this drug would improve the dermatitis. A week or so after the first injection, his entire body above his knees was bright red. The itching was out of control. Several months later there were strange bumps on his arms and had a biopsy. . It was negative. Last month he had another b[Show More]Last March my husband was prescribed Dupixent for atopic dermatitis. He had been itching for many months and was told this drug would improve the dermatitis. A week or so after the first injection, his entire body above his knees was bright red. The itching was out of control. Several months later there were strange bumps on his arms and had a biopsy. . It was negative. Last month he had another biopsy. He has Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma. The oncologist said the lymphoma was dormant until it was provoked by the dupixent. He is stage 3a. There is no cure. The skin lymphoma covers more than 60% of his skin. This is a known adverse reaction to dupixent. He eventually would have been diagnosed with CTCL but it probably would have been diagnosed at an earlier stage. Before going on Dupixent, demand blood work!
DeniseDecember 26, 2022 at 2:14 pm
I've suffered with server eczema since I was born. After all the testing and exhausting all other options, didn't was introduced. I was told to no longer use Triamcinolone anymore bc after 15 years of use, I was told my medicine was giving my skin an adverse effect. It was thinning my skin and making me worse! I was told to use dupixent biweekly. In the year I've been on it, the eczema has spread.[Show More]I've suffered with server eczema since I was born. After all the testing and exhausting all other options, didn't was introduced. I was told to no longer use Triamcinolone anymore bc after 15 years of use, I was told my medicine was giving my skin an adverse effect. It was thinning my skin and making me worse! I was told to use dupixent biweekly. In the year I've been on it, the eczema has spread. I now have wrinkles and the age of 35. The only other option I was given so far was to raise the dose. I highly doubt I'll be signing up for that.
CherylJune 7, 2022 at 4:20 pm
I was put on Dupixent Oct 2021 after a month of being on Dupixent I started having joint pain in the hips. I reported to my doctor who was following up on side effects. By March 2022 I could hardly move and pain was extreme, the joint pain also moved into my shoulder and I was unable to hardly lift my arms. Many X-rays and MRI followed with a visit with orthopedic surgeon resulting in side effect[Show More]I was put on Dupixent Oct 2021 after a month of being on Dupixent I started having joint pain in the hips. I reported to my doctor who was following up on side effects. By March 2022 I could hardly move and pain was extreme, the joint pain also moved into my shoulder and I was unable to hardly lift my arms. Many X-rays and MRI followed with a visit with orthopedic surgeon resulting in side effects from Dupixent. The Dupixent helped with the eczema but the side effects of severe joint pain and unable to move so I have been taken off Dupixent.
JohnJune 1, 2022 at 9:01 pm
I was diagnosed with hyper eosinophilia blamed on Dupixent I was off of work for 14 months.