Efficacy and safety of ciclosporin versus methotrexate in the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis in children and young people (TREAT): a multicentre parallel group assessor-blinded clinical trial

Journal article

Ciclosporin and methotrexate are among the most commonly used conventional systemic medications in paediatric patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). However, to date, there has been no adequately powered randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the comparative efficacy and safety of both therapies in children and young people with AD. Therefore, we conducted a multicentre RCT in the UK and Ireland, which showed that both drugs are safe and effective treatments, with ciclosporin working faster initially but methotrexate showing a more sustained treatment effect, even post-treatment cessation.

Authors: Flohr, C; Rosala-Hallas, A; Jones, AP; Beattie, P; Baron, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Journal: British Journal of Dermatology
• Volume: 189
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 674-684
• Publication date: 2023-09-19
• DOI: 10.1093/bjd/ljad281
• EISSN: 1365-2133
• ISSN: 0007-0963
• Language: English
• Keywords: Medicine; Eczema Area and Severity Index; SCORAD; Atopic dermatitis; Randomized controlled trial; Ciclosporin; Methotrexate; Internal medicine; Quality of life (healthcare); Population; Adverse effect; Clinical trial; Dermatology Life Quality Index; Pediatrics; Dermatology; Transplantation; Disease