Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and erythematous skin disease are often treated with topical treatment containing corticosteroids. However, long term use of topical corticosteroid is well known for its potential side-effects such as skin atrophy, hirsutism, dyspigmentation, telangiectasia, and possible skin infection and iatrogenic adrenal insufficiency. Fear about medication side effects would cause lack of adherence to treatment regiments and thus patients would seek for alternative therapies, and a long term safer and affordable treatment modality is required to fill this therapeutic gap.
Enhanced external counter-pulsation (EECP) therapy is a non-invasive method to improve perfusion of vital organs and reduces hypercholesterolemia-induced endothelial damage. It also helped to increase cerebral blood circulation in patients with ischemic stroke and improved neurological recovery.
This study aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of patients with atopic dermatitis and erythematous/ inflammatory skin diseases to receive EECP therapy combined treatment compared to wet wrap therapy alone.
Patients aged between 18 to 65 years old present with atopic dermatitis or erythematous / inflammatory skin diseases attending Queen Mary Hospital dermatology clinics requiring wet-wrap therapy (WWT) will be screened for recruitment by attending dermatologist(s)
Patients with AD having EASI>10 or erythematous/inflammatory skin disorder BSA>5%
Body weight ≥ 40kg at screening and baseline visit
Body height ≥ 150cm at screening and baseline visit
Patients who refuse to give consent
Females of childbearing potential who are pregnant or during breastfeeding period
Patients have newly started systemic corticosteroid, immunosuppressants or biologics within 6 week of Baseline (Day 0)
Patients who have unstable AD or inflammatory skin disease, active infection or contagious skin symptoms within 2 weeks before day 1 pre-enrolment