D-CARE (Delgocitinib-Chronic hAnd Eczema Response Evaluation): A Retrospective, Multicenter, Real-World Study of Patients with Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) Treated with Delgocitinib 2% Cream—Temporal Analysis of Symptom and Clinical Sign Response
4 affiliations
- 1Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- 2Section of Dermatology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonian Area, University Aldo Moro of Bari, Bari, Italy
- 3San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- 4Department of Medicine and Health Sciences Vincenzo Tiberio, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
Abstract
Introduction: Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a frequent and often refractory inflammatory skin disease with a substantial impact on quality of life. Delgocitinib 2% cream has demonstrated efficacy in phase 3 trials, but real-world evidence remains limited. This study evaluated its effectiveness and the temporal dynamics of clinical and symptomatic response in patients with CHE.
Methods: This multicenter, retrospective observational study included 58 adults with CHE treated with delgocitinib 2% cream and followed for 16 weeks. Clinical severity and patient-reported outcomes were assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 16. Changes in the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI), global assessment scores, pruritus, pain, and quality of life were analyzed, together with the evolution of individual HECSI components across anatomical regions.
Results: All clinical and patient-reported outcomes improved significantly during follow-up (all p < 0.001). Mean HECSI decreased from 71.5 ± 29.2 at baseline to 19.5 ± 15.1 at week 4 and 6.8 ± 8.9 at week 16. Pruritus and pain both showed marked reductions during follow-up. At week 4, mean vesicle and edema scores were 0.0–0.1 across anatomical regions, while desquamation remained 1.0 ± 1.1 at the fingertips and fingers; at week 16, fissure scores were 0.2 and 0.3 and desquamation scores were 0.4 and 0.3 at the fingertips and fingers, respectively. Quality of life also improved substantially. Two patients (3.4%) experienced adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation.
Conclusions: Delgocitinib 2% cream showed rapid and clinically meaningful real-world effectiveness in CHE. Inflammatory signs improved earlier than chronic structural features such as fissures and desquamation. These differential response kinetics may help clinicians interpret early partial responses and counsel patients regarding expected treatment timelines.
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BibTeX
@article{napolitano2026dcare,
title = {{D-CARE (Delgocitinib-Chronic hAnd Eczema Response Evaluation): A Retrospective, Multicenter, Real-World Study of Patients with Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) Treated with Delgocitinib 2% Cream—Temporal Analysis of Symptom and Clinical Sign Response}},
author = {Maddalena Napolitano and Martina Turco and Luca Potestio and Paolo Romita and Eustachio Nettis and Maria Carla Pisani and Maria Mariano and Mattia Cristallo and Martina Fico and Flavia Pigliacelli and Francesca di Vico and Maria Concetta Fargnoli and Cataldo Patruno},
journal = {Dermatology and Therapy},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s13555-026-01929-1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-026-01929-1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - D-CARE (Delgocitinib-Chronic hAnd Eczema Response Evaluation): A Retrospective, Multicenter, Real-World Study of Patients with Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) Treated with Delgocitinib 2% Cream—Temporal Analysis of Symptom and Clinical Sign Response
AU - Maddalena Napolitano
AU - Martina Turco
AU - Luca Potestio
AU - Paolo Romita
AU - Eustachio Nettis
AU - Maria Carla Pisani
AU - Maria Mariano
AU - Mattia Cristallo
AU - Martina Fico
AU - Flavia Pigliacelli
AU - Francesca di Vico
AU - Maria Concetta Fargnoli
AU - Cataldo Patruno
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/02
JO - Dermatology and Therapy
DO - 10.1007/s13555-026-01929-1
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-026-01929-1
AB - Introduction: Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a frequent and often refractory inflammatory skin disease with a substantial impact on quality of life. Delgocitinib 2% cream has demonstrated efficacy in phase 3 trials, but real-world evidence remains limited. This study evaluated its effectiveness and the temporal dynamics of clinical and symptomatic response in patients with CHE. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective observational study included 58 adults with CHE treated with delgocitinib 2% cream and followed for 16 weeks. Clinical severity and patient-reported outcomes were assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 16. Changes in the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI), global assessment scores, pruritus, pain, and quality of life were analyzed, together with the evolution of individual HECSI components across anatomical regions. Results: All clinical and patient-reported outcomes improved significantly during follow-up (all p < 0.001). Mean HECSI decreased from 71.5 ± 29.2 at baseline to 19.5 ± 15.1 at week 4 and 6.8 ± 8.9 at week 16. Pruritus and pain both showed marked reductions during follow-up. At week 4, mean vesicle and edema scores were 0.0–0.1 across anatomical regions, while desquamation remained 1.0 ± 1.1 at the fingertips and fingers; at week 16, fissure scores were 0.2 and 0.3 and desquamation scores were 0.4 and 0.3 at the fingertips and fingers, respectively. Quality of life also improved substantially. Two patients (3.4%) experienced adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation. Conclusions: Delgocitinib 2% cream showed rapid and clinically meaningful real-world effectiveness in CHE. Inflammatory signs improved earlier than chronic structural features such as fissures and desquamation. These differential response kinetics may help clinicians interpret early partial responses and counsel patients regarding expected treatment timelines.
SN - 2193-8210
SN - 2190-9172
ER -