This is a non-interventional prospective study to investigate the treatment response to topical application with Ectoin Dermatitis Cream 7% as first-line therapy of grade I acute skin graft-versus-host disease.
Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a medical complication following the receipt of transplanted tissue from a genetically different person. In the classical sense, acute graft-versus-host-disease is characterized by selective damage to different organ systems and the severity of acute GVHD is determined by an assessment of the degree of involvement of the skin, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. In general topical steroids can be used as first line treatment in acute grade I skin GvHD according to Dignan et al 2012. However, the administration of high doses and/or prolonged use of topical steroids is associated with severe side effects, such as opportunistic infections, that is a significant factor for morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, the results of corticosteroid treatment are clearly suboptimal, with continuing complete response rates of only 20-40% in acute and chronic GVHD. Therefore, it still remains a matter of debate whether there is an alternative first line therapy to topical steroids that can overcome these problems. Ectoin Dermatitis Cream is a high quality cream containing 7% Ectoin without cortisone for the symptomatic, proactive treatment of atopic dermatitis or other inflammatory skin diseases as e.g. radio or contact dermatitis. In several clinical studies it has been shown that Ectoin Dermatitis Cream reduces inflammation of the skin during sub-acute periods and stabilizes the skin barrier. In acute periods, it reduces the symptoms like itchiness and redness of the skin. In this study, Ectoin Dermatitis Cream can be used as therapy of grade 1 (stage 1 and 2) acute skin GvHD in patients who have a hypersensitivity to corticosteroids or show an ineffectiveness of topical corticosteroids. Following confirmation of the diagnosis, patients will asked by the investigator whether they are interested to participate in the current trial. The investigator, taking the patients into consideration is free to decide who is to receive the Ectoin Dermatitis Cream. Patients enrolled in this observational trial will be treated for 14 days with Ectoin Dermatitis Cream. Patients who do not respond to Ectoin therapy within the first 5 to 7 days of treatment, will be treated with topical or systemic steroids. However, when there are indications of good treatment response, the patients will be treated with Ectoin Dermatitis Cream until symptoms resolve.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Department of medicine 5, Haematology and Oncology, University hospital Erlangen
Erlangen, Germany
Change in severity of skin GvHD as assessed by a visual examination and asking the patient about pain and discomfort
A trained clinical member of the team scores the degree and severity of skin GvHD as follow: stage 1, maculopapular rash over \<25 percent of body area; stage 2, maculopapular rash over 25 to 50 percent of body area; stage 3, generalized erythroderma; stage 4, generalized erythroderma with bullous formation, often with desquamation
Time frame: Visit 1 (day 0), Visit 2 (after 7±2 days), Visit 3 (after 14±2 days)
The number of patients who progress within 14 days of initiation of Ectoin treatment
Time frame: 14 days after starting treatment with Ectoin Dermatitis Cream
Change in intensity of itching by using a patient-reported experience questionnaire
The intensity of itching will be graded on a numeric scale, i.e. absent-0, severe-10
Time frame: Visit 1 (day 0), Visit 2 (after 7±2 days), Visit 3 (after 14±2 days)
Change in Evaluation of touch sensitivity by using a patient-reported experience questionnaire
The intensity of touch sensitivity will be graded on a numeric scale, i.e. absent-0, severe-10
Time frame: Visit 1 (day 0), Visit 2 (after 7±2 days), Visit 3 (after 14±2 days)
Change in Evaluation of limited mobility by using a patient-reported experience questionnaire
The intensity of limited mobility will be graded on a numeric scale, i.e. absent-0, severe-10
Time frame: Visit 1 (day 0), Visit 2 (after 7±2 days), Visit 3 (after 14±2 days)
Change in Evaluation of pain by using a patient-reported experience questionnaire
The intensity of pain will be graded on a numeric scale, i.e. absent-0, severe-10
Time frame: Visit 1 (day 0), Visit 2 (after 7±2 days), Visit 3 (after 14±2 days)
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Change in Evaluation of wounds by using a patient-reported experience questionnaire
The intensity of wounds will be graded on a numeric scale, i.e. absent-0, severe-10
Time frame: Visit 1 (day 0), Visit 2 (after 7±2 days), Visit 3 (after 14±2 days)
Change in Evaluation of inflammation of Skin by using a patient-reported experience questionnaire
The intensity of inflammation will be graded on a numeric scale, i.e. absent-0, severe-10
Time frame: Visit 1 (day 0), Visit 2 (after 7±2 days), Visit 3 (after 14±2 days)
Change in intensity of erythema evaluated by the physician
The intensity of erythema will be graded on a 4-point scale, i.e. 0-absent, severe-4
Time frame: Visit 1 (day 0), Visit 2 (after 7±2 days), Visit 3 (after 14±2 days)
Change in Evaluation of dry Skin evaluated by the physician
The intensity of dry Skin will be graded on a 4-point scale, i.e. 0-absent, severe-4
Time frame: Visit 1 (day 0), Visit 2 (after 7±2 days), Visit 3 (after 14±2 days)
Change in Evaluation of hyperkeratosis evaluated by the physician
The intensity will be graded on a 4-point scale, i.e. 0-absent, severe-4
Time frame: Visit 1 (day 0), Visit 2 (after 7±2 days), Visit 3 (after 14±2 days)
Change in Evaluation of rhagades evaluated by the physician
The intensity will be graded on a 4-point scale, i.e. 0-absent, severe-4
Time frame: Visit 1 (day 0), Visit 2 (after 7±2 days), Visit 3 (after 14±2 days)
Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0
Time frame: within 14 days after starting treatment with Ectoin Dermatitis Cream