Search

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that negatively impacts on patient's life. A holistic approach integrating well-being assessment could improve disease management. Since a consensus definition of well-being in psoriasis is not available, we aim to achieve a multidisciplinary consensus on well-being definition and its components. A literature review and consultation with psoriasis patients facilitated the design of a two-round Delphi questionnaire targeting healthcare professionals and psoriasis patients. A total of 261 panellists (65.1% patients with psoriasis, 34.9% healthcare professionals) agreed on the dimensions and components that should integrate the concept of well-being: emotional dimension (78.9%) [stress (83.9%), mood disturbance (85.1%), body image (83.9%), stigma/shame (75.1%), self-esteem (77.4%) and coping/resilience (81.2%)], physical dimension (82.0%) [sleep quality (81.6%), pain/discomfort (80.8%), itching (83.5%), extracutaneous manifestations (82.8%), lesions in visible areas (84.3%), lesions in functional areas (85.8%), and sex life (78.2%)], social dimension (79.5%) [social relationships (80.8%), leisure/recreational activities (80.3%), support from family/friends (76.6%) and work/academic life (76.5%)], and satisfaction with disease management (78.5%) [treatment (78.2%), information received (75.6%) and medical care provided by the dermatologist (80.1%)]. This well-being definition reflects patients' needs and concerns. Therefore, addressing them in psoriasis will optimise management, contributing to better outcomes and restoring normalcy to the patient's life., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Previous investigations pointed out a role for antigen stimulation in Sezary syndrome (SS). High-throughput sequencing of the T cell receptor (TR) offers several applications beyond diagnostic purposes, including the study of T cell pathogenesis., Methods: We performed high-throughput RNA sequencing of the TR alpha (TRA) and beta (TRB) genes focusing on the complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) in 11 SS and one erythrodermic mycosis fungoides (MF) patients. Five psoriasis patients were employed as controls. Peripheral blood CD4 + cells were isolated and RNA sequenced (HiSeq2500). High-resolution HLA typing was performed in neoplastic patients., Results: Highly expanded predominant TRA and TRB CDR3 were only found in SS patients (median frequency: 94.4% and 93.7%). No remarkable CDR3 expansions were observed in psoriasis patients (median frequency of predominant TRA and TRB CDR3: 0.87% and 0.69%, p < 0.001 compared to SS). CDR3 almost identical to the predominant were identified within each SS patient and were exponentially correlated with frequencies of the predominant CDR3 (R 2  = 0.918, p < 0.001). Forty-six different CDR3 were shared between SS patients displaying HLA similarities, including predominant TRA and TRB CDR3 in one patient that were found in other three patients. Additionally, 351 antigen matches were detected (Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, Influenza virus, and self-antigens), and the predominant CDR3 of two different SS patients matched CDR3 with specificity for Influenza and Epstein-Barr viruses., Conclusions: Besides detecting clonality, these findings shed light on the nature of SS-related antigens, pointing to RNA sequencing as a useful tool for simultaneous clonality and biological analysis in SS., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Guselkumab is a monoclonal antibody that selectively blocks the p19 subunit of interleukin 23 and has been approved for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis in adult patients due to its efficacy in different clinical trials. Therefore, itis important to know the performance of guselkumab in this setting of patients in clinical practice given that a high percentage of them are not represented in these clinical trials. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of guselkumab in clinical practice in the first patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treated since the date of its approval for psoriasis in Spain, in joint dermatology-rheumatology clinics. A multicenter retrospective data collection was carried out, in which 14 hospitals participated, including a total of 90 patients with psoriatic arthritis confirmed by a rheumatologist. Data collection was recorded at baseline and at weeks 12, 24, and 52 for both the articular and cutaneous domains. Ninety PsA patients started treatment with guselkumab and therefore were included in this study. The vast majority had already failed to at least to one biologic therapyprior guselkumab prescription. The median age was 55 years, 61% were female and 46% had a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 . Sixty-nine percent suffered from peripheral arthritis, and in 34% an axial involvement was also detected; dactylitis or enthesitis was present in 24% and 29% of patients, respectively. Guselkumab was effective in controlling both articular and skin manifestations of PsA patients. Absolute PASI significantly decreased from 10.5 to 4.8, 1.9 and 1.3 at weeks 12, 24, and 52, respectively. In 29 out of 61 (48%) of cases, DAPSA was moderate or high, and patients showed a significant reduction in DAPSA at 12, 24, and 52 weeks of treatment (mean DAPSA values at baseline and follow up were 29, 20, 16, and 14, respectively). Patients with DAPSA in low activity or in remission at the time of initiation of guselkumab maintained response at the end of the study period. No new safety concerns were detected. Seventy-eight out of 90 patients (84.4%) persisted on treatment after 2 years follow-up. Our experience suggests that guselkumab isan effective drug for PsA and PsO patients in clinical practice with good tolerability and no additional safety signals, making it a new therapeutic alternative for the treatment of PsA and PsO patients., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Scant information from clinical practice is available on the effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab (UST) 90 mg in patients with psoriasis weighing 100 kg or less. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness and safety at weeks 16 and 24 of UST 90 mg in patients with psoriasis weighing ≤100 kg, and to study the impact on clinical outcomes of body mass index (BMI) and prior exposure to UST 45 mg. Methods: A retrospective, observational, and multicenter study of 74 adult patients who were treated with UST 90 mg at least 24 weeks. Results: Mean (standard deviation [SD]) score on psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) was 7.9 (4.8) at baseline, 3.3 (3.5) at week 16, and 2.2 (2.4) at week 24, when 69.7% of the patients had a PASI under 3. Overweight and obese patients achieved a mean PASI of 2.2 by week 24 ( p = .995). In patients who had previously been treated with UST 45 mg (52/74) with insufficient response, mean (SD) absolute PASI score was 2.7 (2.6) at week 24. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: In patients who weigh 100 kg or less but are overweight or obese and do not present an adequate response with UST 45 mg, increasing the dose to UST 90 mg could be an alternative option.

Background: The efficacy and safety of secukinumab in patients with plaque psoriasis (PsO) have been demonstrated in randomized clinical trials (RCTs). However, data regarding its efficacy and safety in real-life settings are scarce. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of secukinumab in clinical practice in patients with PsO attending 10 dermatology centers in Spain. Methods: Data from 136 patients consecutively treated with secukinumab for at least 52 weeks were collected in a retrospective observational study. Results: After 52 weeks of treatment, 69% and 46% of patients achieved a PASI-75, PASI-90, respectively. PASI-score ≤5 was achieved in 83% of patients, PASI-score ≤3 in 73% and PASI-score ≤1 in 47%. Response rates were found significantly lower in patients with obesity and non-naïve to biologics ( p  < .05). The most common adverse event (AE) was candidiasis (5/136). Thirty-six patients (26.5%) discontinued treatment by week 52 due to lack or loss of response ( n  = 29), AEs ( n  = 2) or other causes ( n  = 5). Conclusion: These findings complement the efficacy and safety profiles of secukinumab in PsO outlined in RCTs. The effectiveness in clinical practice may be lower in patients with a BMI ≥30 and those previously treated with other biologic agents.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease associated with considerable physical and psychological comorbidities. Stress and emotional disturbances have been implicated in both triggering the onset and exacerbation of psoriasis. In order to determine the level of perceived stress and mood alterations in patients with psoriasis and their association with disease severity, 300 individuals completed diverse validated questionnaires assessing stress and psychological mood. Evaluation of perception of disease was also measured. A significant association between psoriasis severity and mood, emotional disturbances and an impact on assessments of the quality of life were observed. Particularly, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for Depression detected a significant risk for depression in relation to the disease severity. The association between depression features, anxiety and perceived stress with psoriasis severity is important and can influence the appropriate management of psoriasis.

Background: Ixekizumab (anti-IL17A) is effective as treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, but real-life data on effectiveness and safety are currently very limited., Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ixekizumab in a cohort of real-life plaque psoriasis patients., Methods: Retrospective chart review of 100 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis treated with ixekizumab at seven Spanish dermatological centres., Results: According to the as observed analysis, the percentage of patients achieving a 75% and 90% of reduction from the baseline score of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was 87.5%-50.0% at week 12-16; 88.3%-58.4% at week 24 and 82.9%-58.5% at week 52, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) score of PASI at baseline was 12.9 ± 9.2, and it declined rapidly after ixekizumab administration to 1.9 ± 4.0 (P < 0.001) at week 12-16 and was maintained at 1.7 ± 4.1 and 1.8 ± 2.9 at week 24 and 52, respectively. Ixekizumab response was not affected by clinical variables like body mass index, disease duration or the presence of psoriatic arthritis. However, the bio-naive group showed significantly higher PASI 75 response rate at week 12-16 compared to patients previously exposed to biologic agents (P = 0.037). Twenty-six (26%) patients experienced adverse events (AEs) during the follow-up period, being most of them of mild-to-moderate intensity. The most common AE was local reaction at the site of injection (14/26; 53.8%). At the end of the observational period, 15 (15%) patients discontinued ixekizumab treatment due to limited clinical improvement (n = 11), adverse events (n = 3) or lost to follow-up (n = 1) within a mean ± SD time of 6.0 ± 3.9 months., Conclusion: The present study illustrates the initial experience with ixekizumab in real-world clinical practice confirming its usefulness and safety in the management of plaque psoriasis patients., (© 2018 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

This cross-sectional study evaluated the usefulness of an ultrasound technique in assessment of nail changes in 35 patients with psoriatic onychopathy and 25 with nail dystrophy secondary to onychomycosis. All patients underwent 3 examinations: a complete clinical assessment; a nail ultrasound study; and fungal culture. Nails of patients with psoriatic onychopathy presented a thinner nail plate and nail bed, measured by ultrasound, than did those with onychomycosis. The percentage of patients with a power Doppler signal ?2 at nail bed was significantly higher in psoriatic onychopathy than in onychomycosis, and structural bone lesions were more frequent in psoriatic onychopathy than in onychomycosis. These results suggest that the presence of structural damage and high-power Doppler signal are the main ultrasound findings supporting a diagnosis of psoriatic onychopathy.

After approval of the use of ustekinumab for treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis, patients with psoriatic arthritis have treated with this drug in daily clinical practice. The aims of this study were to describe baseline characteristics and evolution of a cohort of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treated with ustekinumab and to compare differences between patients who discontinued treatment and those who maintained. A retrospective multicenter observational study including patients who had received ustekinumab for a minimum of 3 months from 2009 to 2015 was performed. The baseline characteristics of the cohort of patients, the main indication for treatment, number and percentage of patients who maintained and discontinued treatment, reasons for discontinuation and differences between patients who discontinued and maintained ustekinumab were evaluated. Fifty-eight patients were included. The main indication was dermatological (72.4% of cases), and treatment with ustekinumab was maintained in most patients (62.1% of cases) with low discontinuation by side effects and rheumatological lack of efficacy. Discontinuation of ustekinumab was correlated with more number of obese patients, less presence of plaque psoriasis and more number of previous biological therapies. Ustekinumab demonstrated efficacy and safety in the management of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in daily clinical practice in our cohort of patients.

Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds to and blocks tumor necrosis factor alpha and is the most effective biologic agent approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. It is administered by intravenous infusion, usually in day hospitals on an outpatient basis. The main problem with the administration of infliximab is the possibility of infusion reactions, which may be immediate or delayed; these reactions are related to the immunogenicity of this monoclonal antibody, leading to the production of anti-infliximab antibodies. Infusion reactions to infliximab are not usually anaphylactic (ie, they are not mediated by immunoglobulin E), and re-exposure of the patient using specific protocols to prevent and treat these reactions is therefore possible. The extensive experience in the use of infliximab for the treatment of rheumatic conditions and chronic inflammatory bowel disease has made it possible to develop infusion reaction management protocols; these can be applied to dermatologic patients, who constitute a growing proportion of patients treated with intravenous biological agents. The aim of this review is to draw up a consensus protocol for the treatment of infusion reactions in dermatologic patients treated with infliximab.

Purpose: This study evaluated the efficacy of targeted UVB phototherapy treatment of chronic persistent psoratic plaques with localized incoherent UVB phototherapy., Methods: Sixteen subjects were enrolled. The final group was composed of eight men and seven women, each having one to seven chronic, stable psoriatic plaques. Each plaque was treated with fluences ranging from 3 to 7 MED using a fibre-coupled incoherent phototherapy device twice weekly for a maximum of 13 sessions. Assessments with a combination of three scores, each on a scale from 0 to 4, for scaling, erythema and induration (SEI score) were performed., Results: The patients received from 6 to 13 sessions (mean 9.6). The SEI score decreased by 3.3 (p = 0.01). This reduction was equally detected in all subscores. In a few patients, blistering and burning sensation after some sessions were noted., Conclusion: Localized UVB phototherapy is an effective treatment option for persistent plaques of psoriasis. Compared with conventional UVB, localized phototherapy has the added safety benefit of virtually eliminating unwanted exposure of the healthy tissue to UVB.