1. Effects of Apremilast on Pruritus and Skin Discomfort/Pain Correlate With Improvements in Quality of Life in Patients With Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis.
- Author
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SOBELL, Jeffrey M., FOLEY, Peter, TOTH, Darryl, MROWIETZ, Ulrich, GIROLOMONI, Giampiero, GONCALVES, Joana, DAY, Robert M., CHEN, Rongdean, and YOSIPOVITCH, Gil
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PSORIASIS , *QUALITY of life , *APREMILAST , *VISUAL analog scale , *DERMATOLOGY - Abstract
Pruritus and skin discomfort/pain negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The effects of apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, on pruritus, skin discomfort/pain, and patient global assessment of psoriasis disease activity (PgAPDA) were assessed in patients with moderate/severe chronic plaque psoriasis in the phase 3 ESTEEM trials. Significant improvements in pruritus and skin discomfort/pain observed at Week 2 with apremilast versus placebo (both studies, p < 0.0001) were sustained through Week 32. Among apremilast-treated patients, improvements in pruritus visual analog scale (VAS) scores correlated with Dermatology Life Quality Index scores (rs = 0.55 [Week 16]; rs≥ 0.51 [Week 32]; both studies, p < 0.001). PgAPDA correlated with improvements in pruritus (rs≥ 0.56 [Week 16]; rs≥ 0.53 [Week 32]; both studies, p < 0.001) and skin discomfort/pain (rs ≥ 0.54 [Week 16]; rs≥ 0.53 [Week 32]; both studies, p < 0.001) VAS scores. Apremilast provided rapid and sustained improvement in pruritus and skin discomfort/pain, symptoms not typically captured in psoriasis assessments (e.g., PASI) that contribute significantly to patients' disease severity and HRQoL perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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