Short- and medium-term efficacy of specific hydrotherapy in inherited ichthyosis

Summary Background Management of inherited ichthyoses is symptomatic. Despite treatment, skin symptoms have a major impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL). Objectives To assess the short- and medium-term efficacy of hydrotherapy on QoL and clinical symptoms of patients with inherited ichthyosis. Methods In this 9-month prospective, open-label, multicentre study, 20 children and 24 adults with ichthyosis were enrolled in several French reference and competence centres, 2 months before undergoing a 3-week treatment with specific hydrotherapeutic management at Avène Hydrotherapy Centre. At baseline (2 months before hydrotherapy), beginning (D0) and end of hydrotherapy (D18), and 3 and 6 months later at the reference and competence centres, patients self-assessed QoL using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) or its paediatric version (Children’s DLQI), and investigators evaluated ichthyosis severity using a specific clinical ichthyosis score. Results The DLQI scores were significantly improved not only at the end of the hydrotherapy treatment (−56% vs. baseline; mean ± SD 3·59 ± 4·30 at D18 vs. 8·35 ± 5·71 at D0; P <0·0001), but also at 3 months (−28% vs. baseline; P =0·01) and 6 months after hydrotherapy (−26% vs. baseline; mean ± SD 5·21 ± 5·11 vs. 6·89 ± 5·38; P =0·03) (primary criterion). Clinical symptoms were also significantly improved at all post-treatment visits, with a decrease of the mean clinical ichthyosis score by −38% between D0 and D18, by −30% at 3 months and by −31% at 6 months vs. baseline. Conclusions A 3-week treatment at Avène Hydrotherapy Centre provided significant and persisting improvement of QoL and clinical symptoms in patients with inherited ichthyoses.