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BACKGROUND Psoriasis has a significant impact on quality of life and affects the sexual sphere in 25-70% of patients. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in female patients with psoriasis and to assess the possible correlation of sexual dysfunction with disease severity, genital involvement, age and some comorbidities. METHODS In this prospective case-control study, all female patients with psoriasis followed at three Psoriasis Outpatient Services were divided into two groups depending on psoriasis severity assessed by the Psoriasis Area Severity Index. Both psoriatic patients and female controls without psoriasis were given the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. RESULTS 140 female patients with psoriasis were evaluated, 70 with mild disease and 70 with moderate-severe disease, and compared with 70 female controls without psoriasis. According to FSFI score, prevalence of sexual dysfunctions was significantly higher in moderate-severe psoriatic patients compared to controls. Psoriatic women under the age of 46 presented lower FSFI scores than women over 46. No correlation between genital localization of psoriasis and worsening of sexual health was found. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension were significantly associated with sexual dysfunction, whereas the smoking habit did not significantly affect the sexual sphere of these patients. CONCLUSIONS Sexual dysfunction should be routinely investigated in female patients with psoriasis in the case of moderate-severe disease due to its negative impact on quality of life, especially in younger women and in presence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Background In the treatment of various diseases, such as diabetes and arterial hypertension, fixed dose therapies have been reported to offer a method to simplify complex treatment regimens. There are numerous clinical trials proving the efficacy of cyclosporine in psoriasis in inducing remission and maintaining results, although there are few studies about the treatment optimization of cyclosporine. Methods We performed a 15-year retrospective observational study comparing two groups of psoriatic patients matched for age and sex. We assessed the clinical response, the safety and the compliance who took fixed dose of 200 mg cyclosporine (range 2.2-3.3 mg/kg) compared with a group of patients who took body weight-based dosage. Student's t-test was used to assess the difference in terms of PASI 75 achievement, patient-reported compliance on a five-point scale, DLQI questionnaire, laboratory values and blood pressure. Results PASI 75 achievement was not statistically different between the two groups. Compliance was good in both groups, and DLQI was also comparable. Laboratory values and blood pressure were not significantly different. Conclusions Our study showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in PASI reduction and PASI 75 achievement, even though the fixed dose was often lower (range 2.2-3.3 mg/kg) than the dosage administered depending on weight. Fixed dose cyclosporine is simple and practical to use in specific clinical settings, in particular when the patient's weight ranges from 60 to 90 kg. This approach can result in improved clinical outcomes and a better quality of life for psoriatic patients.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge regarding differences in care for psoriatic patients is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate factors influencing prescription of systemic treatments for patients with psoriasis with a special focus on socioeconomic factors. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This was a non-interventional, cross-sectional study, conducted in 18 Italian University and/or hospital centers with psoriasis-specialized units. Questionnaires evaluating demographic and socioeconomic characteristics were administered to participants. Overall, 1880 consecutive patients affected by mild-to-severe psoriasis were recruited. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses of systemic therapy prescription, with a special focus on biologics, accounting for the above mentioned characteristics were performed. Our analysis showed that all analyzed patients' characteristics were significantly associated with biological therapy compared to non-biological systemic one. Particularly, women were less likely to receive biologics than men (OR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.57-0.77). Elderly patients (≥65 years) and subjects with a BMI ≥30 had lower odds to receive biologics respect to adults (≥35-64 years) (OR = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.25-0.40), and subjects with BMI≥25

Background Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing disease often associated with comorbidities. While its associations with cardiovascular and metabolic factors have been investigated, little is known about its association with impairment of renal function. Materials and methods We performed a cohort study of 219 psoriatic patients in which we evaluated chronic kidney disease (CKD) and eGFR as well as albuminuria according to their KDIGO stratification risk criteria. We also evaluated circulating immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), C3-C4 levels and the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio. We divided the patients into two groups, according to the presence or absence of known and established CKD risk factors. Results In our population, the risk of CKD was moderate in 17.35 % of patients, high in 5.02 % and very high in 3.66 %. The risk prevalence for CKD was slightly greater in the group without established risk factors than the risk prevalence reported in NHANES 1999-2006. The presence of psoriatic arthritis, duration of psoriasis (≥ 21 years) and magnitude of the PASI score showed a positive correlation with the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Conclusions We found an association between microalbuminuria and the duration of psoriasis, as well as with psoriatic arthritis. Moreover, patients with microalbuminuria exhibited a higher Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome stratification risk.

Objective This European, multicentric, retrospective study aimed to collect data on secukinumab effectiveness in a real-world setting. Research design and methods: All psoriatic patients starting secukinumab between January 2016 and February 2017 in 11 European centers were followed until February 2018 and retrospectively evaluated. Main outcome measures: Secukinumab effectiveness was assessed by relative improvement from baseline of the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and absolute PASI score modifications throughout 52 weeks of therapy. Additionally measures assessing effectiveness were used, including improvements of body surface area (BSA) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Results Out the 330 patients with potentially 52-week treatment duration, naïve to biologics patients showed greater probability to achieved PASI score of ≤1, ≤2, ≤3, and ≤5 at week 12, compared to bio-experienced patients (45.86% vs. 27.17%, 62.42% vs. 42.42%, 73.89% vs. 57.80%, and 84.08% vs. 74.57%, respectively). The greater effectiveness of secukinumab treatment in bio-naïve patients was confirmed at week 24 and 52. Conclusions In this real-world experience, secukinumab was proven effective in treating psoriasis patients throughout a 52-weeks observation period, with higher response in bio-naïve patients. This study may contribute to defining the clinical profile of secukinumab best-responders.

Background Psoriasis is a multi-systemic disease involving the skin and joints, but it is also characterized by endothelial dysfunction, which may cause sexual impotence and erectile dysfunction (ED), an embarrassing disease frequently neglected by dermatologists. Objective The principal objective was assessing the relationship between the severity of psoriasis and the severity of ED. We also investigated whether severity of psoriasis was related to International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score, whether genital lesions worsened the IIEF-5 score, whether ED was related to factors such as diabetes, smoking and hypertension, and finally the overall the psychological factors felt by the patient. Methods We administered two questionnaires (one of which was the IIEF-5, a validated score to assess erectile dysfunction) to three groups of patients: 60 with mild psoriasis, 60 with severe psoriasis (assessed by Psoriasis Area Severity Index, PASI) and a control group including 60 patients without the disease. Results In the group of mild psoriasis, the patients who suffered from ED were the 56.67%, while in the group of severe psoriasis, ED affected the 46.68% of subjects. In the control group, ED was reported by the 23.33% of patients. The average IIEF-5 score was 18.81 for patients with mild psoriasis and 20.31 for patients with severe form. The difference in the average IIEF-5 scores between psoriatic (mild and severe cases) and control group was not statistically significant. Most patients with sexual dysfunction had also genital lesions; diabetes, smoking and hypertension were not related to lower IIEF-5 scores. The overall psychological profile of psoriatic patients was worse than that of the controls. Conclusion We concluded that ED was related to psoriasis, in particular to mild forms. Moreover, since ED is a marker of cardiovascular events, also related to negative impact on the quality of life, physicians should always investigate the presence of ED in clinical practice.

Background The clinical-epidemiological characteristics and course of bullous pemphigoid in the general population is not clear. Few studies have been performed to date, and only one in the Italian population more than ten years ago. We decided to evaluate the characteristics and outcome of patients admitted for a bullous pemphigoid at our Hospital in the last 4 years. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the last 4 years' medical records of the Department of Dermatology of the University of Bologna, identifying all patients with histological and immunological data typical for bullous pemphigoid. The patients were contacted and, whenever possible, re-evaluated clinically and serologically. Finally, we made a reviews of therapies administered in these cases. Results We identified 53 patients with a diagnosis of sub-epidermal autoimmune blistering disease. At re-evaluation, resolution of the disease was observed in 13 cases (24.52%) while the disease persisted in 32 cases. An improvement was observed in 35 (66.03%) patients, a worsening was observed in 3 (5.66%) patients, while the class did not change in 5 (9.43%) patients. All patients received systemic steroids as first line therapy, although most patients underwent more than one therapy. Fifteen patients received systemic steroid therapy alone, 22 patients received azathioprin, 16 patients received methotrexate, all patients received a prescription of topical steroid. Twenty-eight patients had abnormal values of eosinophilia, extremely susceptible to systemic steroid therapy. Conclusions The findings of our study differ slightly from data collected by other authors in literature. Methotrexate is the drug of choice in terms of efficacy, practicality, cost and tolerability, particularly in the elderly population.

Patients overweight or obese have more severe psoriasis than normal weight patients. Sometimes the excessive weight is related to a lack of efficacy of systemic treatment. We report a case of a psoriatic patient that experienced a dramatic improvement of psoriasis after weight loss surgery by gastric bandage. The great weight loss was accompanied by an effectiveness gain of response to infliximab. The mechanism responsible for this association is not certain, but it is probably multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental and immune-mediated factors. It has been suggested that adipose tissue can dramatically alter the volume of drug distribution and limit drug efficacy. Moreover, a reduction of weight could favour the response to therapy and remission of the disease, inducing an improvement in patient's quality of life. Gastric bandage has a scarce rate of complications, a fast recovery and scarce life-threatening complications. It should be considered in obese patient that not shown effectiveness to therapy.

Psoriatic patients with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) need a prophylaxis before starting a treatment with biological drugs. The aim of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of prophylaxis of LTBI in psoriatic patients receiving long-term biological drugs. The study included 56 patients (42 male and 14 female) affected by moderate-to-severe psoriasis (mean PASI: 12.8 ± 6.9 SD) treated with anti-TNF-α and/or anti IL 12, 23 and/or anti-CD11 drugs with a diagnosis of LTBI. LTBI diagnosis was based on tuberculin skin test and/or QuantiFERON TB Gold test positivity and chest X-ray suggestive, without clinical, or microbiological evidence of active disease. All patients received prophylactic therapy for 9 months with isoniazid (INH) 300 mg/day, starting 3 weeks before the beginning of biological treatment. Fifty-four patients completed prophylaxis with INH without any adverse events or intolerance; they continue the biological treatment without appearance of active tuberculosis. One patient developed tuberculosis pleurisy in course of treatment with etanercept. The infection has been treated and after a stable remission, treatment was restarted without tuberculosis reactivation. In this retrospective analysis, the prophylaxis of LTBI whit INH was effective and safe in longer follow-up period.

Interstitial granulomatous dermatitis with arthritis (IGDA), also known as Ackerman's syndrome, is a rare cutaneous disease classically characterized by the triad of cutaneous cords, a typical histologic infiltrate mainly constituted by histiocytes and arthritis/connective tissue disease. Here we report the case of IGDA with the typical clinical and histological features in a patient affected by lupus erythematosus. In this article we underline that IGDA may have a variety of different clinical and histological features. The rope sign is typical but infrequent, while histology is usually characteristic and shows a dermal inflammatory infiltrate, with a predominance of histiocytes, localized interstitially and in a palisaded array between collagen fibres, that show signs of degeneration. Clinical and histological differential diagnoses are discussed.

TNF-α inhibitors have been associated with induction of autoantibodies and autoimmune diseases. We retrospectively evaluated the incidence of autoantibodies ANA, ENA, anti-dsDNA, the occurrence of clinical symptoms and possibly related treatment failure.The titers of ANA, ENA and anti-dsDNA were evaluated from blood samples every six months in 128 patients receiving a TNF-α inhibitor (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab).Overall 37% of 128 patients treated with anti-TNF-α drug developed autoantibodies, mostly induced by infliximab; 48.48 % of patients who received infliximab presented autoantibodies. One patient developed a drug-induced lupus erythematosus. Forty-five patients were switched to one or more additional TNF-α inhibitors and 25 developed autoantibodies.An increased autoantibody titer is not predictive of treatment failure; particular attention to all phenomena suggestive for autoimmunity is needed in patients with a positive autoantibody titer. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of autoantibodies during anti-TNF- α therapy.

Background: Interdigital psoriasis (IP) of the feet is often missed and is commonly mistaken for interdigital fungal infection. Objective: To assess the characteristics and the clinical presentation of IP, in order to better understand if IP should be considered a distinct form of psoriasis or not. Methods: We performed a 1-year observational study on 164 psoriatic patients, affected by moderate to severe cutaneous psoriasis and undergoing systemic therapy, examining each patient between the digits of both feet. In every suspected case of IP, differential diagnosis with interdigital fungal infection was excluded by direct microscopic examination of skin scrapings, by culture and by skin biopsy. Results: We suspected IP in 7 of the 164 patients. IP was confirmed in 6 patients and in the other one a diagnosis of tinea pedis was made. Conclusion: IP proved to be not rare or atypical since IP localized between the toes usually presents as characteristic whitish and sodden plaques or patches. Such a diagnosis should be considered in all patients presenting characteristic lesions especially if these have a negative fungal culture, are resistant to antimycotic treatment and involve patients with a history of psoriasis.