Twice Daily Versus Twice Weekly Soak-and-Seal Baths in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis

Overview

There are few studies evaluating best bathing practices in the management of pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD). Trans-epidermal water loss plays a key role in the pathophysiology of AD. In concert with application of topical corticosteroids (TCS), we sought to investigate whether frequent soaking baths (i.e. twice daily for two weeks), followed immediately by application of an occlusive moisturizer (i.e. soak-and-seal), would be more effective than infrequent soaking baths (i.e. twice weekly for two weeks) in the management of AD.

Full Title of Study: “Twice Daily Versus Twice Weekly Soak-and-Seal Baths in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized, Single-blinded, Prospective Crossover Controlled Trial”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Treatment
    • Masking: Triple (Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: April 7, 2016

Detailed Description

To evaluate the effectiveness of twice daily soak-and-seal baths for improving severity of disease in children with AD, we implemented a randomized clinical trial using a single-blind, crossover-controlled design. Patients received the same moisturizer, cleanser, and class VI topical corticosteroid (TCS), and only bathing varied. After a 1 week run-in, children were randomized 1:1 into 2 groups: Group 1 underwent twice weekly soak-and-seal baths for 2 weeks ("dry method") followed by twice daily soak-and-seal baths for 2 weeks ("wet method"), and group 2 did the converse. A single treating physician assessed outcomes and, along with those analyzing the data, was masked to group assignment. Participants and their caregivers could not be masked. Analyses were based on intention to treat.

Interventions

  • Behavioral: Infrequent versus Frequent Soaking Baths
    • Submersion of skin, affected by atopic dermatitis, in a bathtub filled with luke-warm water, where the frequency and duration of these baths are varied, to look for any differential effect.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Active Comparator: Infrequent soaking baths
    • Infrequent soaking baths, in this study, is defined as twice a week soaking baths for 10 minutes or less, over 2 weeks. However, this is a crossover study design with two interventions: 1) Infrequent soaking baths, as defined above, and 2) Frequent soaking baths (defined as twice daily soaking baths for 15-20 minutes, over 2 weeks). All subjects in the study will undergo both interventions, but in different order. Thus, this is a study comparing Infrequent Versus Frequent Soaking Baths. Each subject serves as their own control.
  • Active Comparator: Frequent soaking baths
    • Frequent soaking baths, in this study, is defined as twice daily soaking baths for 15-20 minutes, over 2 weeks. However, this is a crossover study design with two interventions: 1) Infrequent soaking baths, as defined in the first arm description above, and 2) Frequent soaking baths, as defined above in this arm description. All subjects in the study will undergo both interventions, but in different order. Thus, this is a study comparing Infrequent Versus Frequent Soaking Baths. Each subject serves as their own control.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis eczema severity score)
    • Time Frame: Each subject undergoes 4 visits over 5 weeks. Visit 1 (V1) to establish if subject fulfills inclusion criteria. V2 (baseline) is after a 1 week “run-in”. 2 weeks between V2-V3 and V3-V4. Change in SCORAD from baseline (V2), for visits 3 minus visits 4.
    • SCORAD (which stands for SCORing Atopic Dermatitis eczema severity score) is a validated eczema severity score assessed by the treating physician. The scale ranges from 0-103, with higher numbers correlating with more severe/worse eczema.

Secondary Measures

  • ADQ (Atopic Dermatitis Quickscore eczema severity score)
    • Time Frame: Each subject undergoes 4 visits over 5 weeks. Visit 1 (V1) to establish if subject fulfills inclusion criteria. V2 (baseline) is after a 1 week “run-in”. 2 weeks between V2-V3 and V3-V4. Change in ADQ from baseline (V2), for visits 3 minus visits 4.
    • ADQ (which stands for Atopic Dermatitis Quickscore) is a validated eczema severity score assessed by the caregivers of a child with AD. The scale ranges from 0-70, with higher numbers correlating with more severe/worse eczema.
  • IDQOL (Infant Dermatitis Quality of life index for under 4 years of age)
    • Time Frame: Each subject undergoes 4 visits over 5 weeks. Visit 1 (V1) to establish if subject fulfills inclusion criteria. V2 (baseline) is after a 1 week “run-in”. 2 weeks between V2-V3 and V3-V4. Change in IDQOL from baseline (V2), for visits 3 minus visits 4.
    • IDQOL (Which stands for Infant Dermatitis Quality of life index) is a validated quality of life measuring tool for AD. The scale ranges from 0-44, with higher numbers correlating with more severe/worse eczema.
  • CDLQI (Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index for 4 years of age and older)
    • Time Frame: Each subject undergoes 4 visits over 5 weeks. Visit 1 (V1) to establish if subject fulfills inclusion criteria. V2 (baseline) is after a 1 week “run-in”. 2 weeks between V2-V3 and V3-V4. Change in CDLQI from baseline (V2), for visits 3 minus visits 4.
    • CDLQI (Which stands for Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index) is a validated quality of life measuring tool for AD. The scale ranges from 0-40, with higher numbers correlating with more severe/worse eczema.
  • DFI (Dermatitis Family Impact questionnaire for QOL measure for 5 and up)
    • Time Frame: Each subject undergoes 4 visits over 5 weeks. Visit 1 (V1) to establish if subject fulfills inclusion criteria. V2 (baseline) is after a 1 week “run-in”. 2 weeks between V2-V3 and V3-V4. Change in DFI from baseline (V2), for visits 3 minus visits 4.
    • DFI (which stands for Dermatitis Family Impact) is a validated quality of life measuring tool for AD. The scale ranges from 0-40, with higher numbers correlating with more severe/worse eczema.
  • Staphylococcal aureus (S. aureus); relative quantities
    • Time Frame: Each subject undergoes 4 visits over 5 weeks. Visit 1 (V1) to establish if subject fulfills inclusion. V2 (baseline) is after a 1 week “run-in”. 2 weeks between V2-V3 and V3-V4. Change in S. aureus from baseline (V2), for visits 3 minus visits visits 4.
    • Relative quantities of S. aureus cultured from the skin. The scale ranges from 1+ rare, 2+ few, 3+ moderate, 4+ many, with higher numbers correlating with higher quantities of S. aureus on the skin.
  • Skin hydration status
    • Time Frame: Each subject undergoes 4 visits over 5 weeks. Visit 1 (V1) to establish if subject fulfills inclusion. V2 (baseline) is after a 1 week “run-in”. 2 weeks between V2-V3 and V3-V4. Change in skin hydration from baseline (V2), for visits 3 minus visits 4.
    • Skin hydration status as measured by impedance-based capacitance utilizing the DPM 9003 instrument by Nova Tech. Corp. The scale ranges from 90-999, with higher values correlating with greater skin hydration.
  • Amount of topical corticosteroid (Desonide 0.05% Oint.) used
    • Time Frame: Each subject undergoes 4 visits over 5 weeks. Visit 1 (V1) to establish if subject fulfills inclusion. V2 (baseline) is after a 1 week “run-in”. 2 weeks between V2-V3 and V3-V4. Change in Desonide use from baseline (V2), for visits 3 minus visits 4.
    • Amount of Desonide 0.05% Oint. used based on weighing the desonide tube at each visit
  • Amount of topical moisturizer (Vanicream) used
    • Time Frame: Each subject undergoes 4 visits over 5 weeks. Visit 1 (V1) to establish if subject fulfills inclusion. V2 (baseline) is after a 1 week “run-in”. 2 weeks between V2-V3 and V3-V4. Change in Vanicream use from baseline (V2), for visits 3 minus visits 4.
    • Amount of Vanicream used based on weighing the Vanicream container at each visit

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Infants and children ages 6 months to 11 years of age with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis according to the criteria of Hanifin and Rajka. Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with suspected or established primary immune deficiency, patients receiving systemic corticosteroids, ultraviolet light therapy, immuno-therapeutic agents, and/or anti-infective drugs less than 1 month from the onset of the study.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 6 Months

Maximum Age: 11 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • MaineHealth
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: Ivan Cardona, Clinical Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine – MaineHealth
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Ivan D Cardona, M.D., Principal Investigator, Allergy & Asthma Associates of Maine

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