Journal-based CME Course: International Eczema Council Definitions of Low Disease Activity and Remission in Atopic Dermatitis – A Consensus Statement

Activity ID

14980

Expires

April 15, 2029

Format Type

Journal-based

CME Credit

1

Fee

$30

CME Provider: JAMA Dermatology

Description of CME Course

Importance  Advances in targeted therapeutics have made substantial response states in atopic dermatitis (AD) increasingly attainable. However, the field lacks standardized, internationally endorsed definitions of low disease activity (LDA), very low disease activity (vLDA), and remission to benchmark treatment response, support regulatory clarity, and enable consistent cross-trial comparisons.

Objective  To develop consensus-based definitions of LDA, vLDA, and remission in AD that accommodate regional regulatory frameworks and to refine associated terminology for clinical and research use.

Evidence Review  A steering committee from the International Eczema Council (IEC) conducted a targeted systematic literature review. PubMed was searched in July 2024 for studies from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2024, using combinations of terms related to atopic dermatitis, clinician-reported outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, disease control states, pruritus measures, and disease activity constructs. Evidence was appraised using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine criteria. Key conceptual domains were identified to inform a 3-round sequential modified Delphi process conducted from January to July 2025. Panelists (current IEC members with recognized AD expertise) iteratively reviewed feedback, refined thresholds, and provided qualitative rationale. Predefined criteria distinguished consensus (≥70% agreement), near consensus (60%-69%), and nonconsensus (<60%), guiding which cutoffs were adopted, revised, or excluded.

Findings  Of the 151 experts invited, 61 (40%) completed round 1, 37 (25%) completed round 2, and 103 (68%) completed round 3. Responses from participants were globally distributed (North America: 59 [29%]; Europe: 47 [23%]; Asia-Pacific: 60 [30%]; Latin America 27 [13%]; Middle East and Africa: 7 [3%]), including 131 clinician-researchers (66%), 59 clinicians (30%), and 9 researchers (5%); 17 respondents (8%) self-identified as individuals with lived AD experience and/or patient advocacy representatives. A total of 43 panelists (74%) endorsed a modular framework that stratifies clinician-reported signs and patient-reported symptoms as complementary components of remission (eg, remission [signs], remission [symptoms], remission [overall]) in the initial survey. Final consensus definitions included LDA (validated Investigator Global Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis [vIGA] = 2 or Eczema Area and Severity Index [EASI] ≤ 7 plus Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale [PP-NRS] ≤ 4), vLDA (vIGA-AD = 0/1 or EASI ≤ 3 plus PP-NRS = 0/1), on-drug complete control (ie, complete control while taking AD-related medications, excluding only nonmedicated moisturizers/emollients, defined as vIGA-AD = 0 or EASI = 0 plus PP-NRS = 0/1 for ≥6 months), and off-drug remission (ie, remission after stopping treatment, defined as vIGA-AD = 0 or EASI = 0 for plus PP-NRS = 0/1 maintained for ≥12 months after treatment).

Conclusions and Relevance  This modified Delphi initiative establishes a globally endorsed, expert-derived framework defining LDA, vLDA, on-drug complete control, and off-drug remission in AD. These standardized, clinically meaningful definitions provide a foundation for harmonized trial design, regulatory evaluation, and longitudinal comparative effectiveness research. By promoting consistent assessment of disease control across studies, this framework advances the field toward evidence-based, treat-to-target AD strategies.

Disclaimers

1. This activity is accredited by the American Medical Association.
2. This activity is free to AMA members.

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