Search

Targeted biologic drugs and small molecules have transformed the psoriasis treatment landscape in recent years. The Belgian healthcare system, in common with many others across Europe, must balance the burgeoning use of these transformative, yet expensive, drugs with the sustainable use of limited resources. Drawing on recent updates to the EuroGuiDerm and the German S2 psoriasis guidelines, eight Belgian dermatologists experienced in treating patients with psoriasis undertook a quasi-Delphi initiative to provide perspectives on the current opportunities and challenges in psoriasis. This update focuses on responsible ways to rationalize the use of innovative treatments (e.g. biologics and small molecules). Inherently, this required viewpoints on the International Psoriasis Council's new definition of severe psoriasis, defining psoriasis severity and the concept of treating to target. It discusses the appropriateness of using older biologics classes, biosimilars and personalized dosing and lastly, how teledermatology may play a role in providing sustainable, patient-centric psoriasis care. In addition, this manuscript includes the updated Belgian evidence-based treatment advice in psoriasis (BETA-PSO) to reflect recent data and drug approvals. The recommendations reflect the best practices for clinicians when using systemic and biologic therapies to treat patients with psoriasis and offer guidance on how they may prescribe these drugs sustainably and efficiently., (© 2024 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a common cause of chronic liver disease. Patients suffering from psoriasis are at an increased risk of developing MASLD. Psoriasis and MASLD share a pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu; however, it is still unclear whether these conditions are related through shared metainflammatory processes or shared comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. The aim of our study was to better characterize the anthropometric and metabolic profile of psoriatic patients with MASLD., Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-center, cross-sectional study between June 2014 and August 2017. Recruitment was restricted to adult patients with psoriasis. Blood analysis, liver ultrasonography, and a FibroScan were performed. Blood investigations, baseline anthropometric measurements, and components of fatty liver disease (hepatic ultrasound, FibroScan) were assessed., Results: A total of 100 patients were recruited, of which, 43% (65.1% men, n = 28) were diagnosed with MASLD. The mean BMI was significantly higher in MASLD than in non-MASLD (27.7 kg/m2 vs. 30.1 kg/m2, p =< 0.001). The mean waist circumference in MASLD patients was significantly higher than in non-MASLD patients (105.6 cm vs. 97.2 cm, p = 0.005). There was no significant difference between the mean age of both patient groups (50.4 vs. 47.3 years, p = 0.26). Psoriatic arthritis was more prevalent in MASLD than in the non-MASLD group (14.3% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.004). Biochemical analysis revealed significantly higher C-peptide level in patients with MASLD compared with patients without MASLD (2.5 vs. 1.6 ng/mL, p = 0.036). Moreover, MASLD patients were found to have a lower HDL level and higher glycemia, triglyceridemia, cholesterol, and LDL levels than non-MASLD patients. A total of 16.3% of patients with MASLD had fibrosis stage ranging from F2 to F4 based on liver stiffness measurement compared with only 10.6% of patients without MASLD., Discussion: We identified parameters which were more prevalent in patients with psoriasis having MASLD, specifically a high BMI, elevated triglyceride levels, decreased HDL levels, and an elevated level of C-peptide. Patients with psoriasis and MASLD were more likely to suffer from comorbid psoriatic arthritis, despite having similar psoriasis disease severity as measured by PASI., Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of screening patients with psoriasis for MASLD to prevent the progression to liver fibrosis., (© 2024 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: French guidelines recommend stopping biologic treatment of psoriasis between 3 and 24 weeks before conception in accordance with the relevant Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the real-life practice of dermatologists in the management of pregnant women with psoriasis previously treated with biologic agents. We wished to assess the level of practitioner adherence to the relevant SmPCs., Material and Methods: We conducted a study in collaboration with GRPso and Resopso. A computerized questionnaire was completed by the practitioners. We performed descriptive statistics and studied the profile of the practitioners, their level of confidence with continuation of biological agents during pregnancy, and their reported practices on the use of biological agents in pregnancy. Statistical analyses were performed using XLSTAT. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant., Results: A total of 63 dermatologists (women: 71%; mean age 43.8 years) participated in this study, the majority of whom were hospital-based (87%). Recommendations were followed by 36.5% of practitioners, while 44% reported discontinuing biologic agents on diagnosis of pregnancy, and 20.5% reported using these agents during pregnancy. Among dermatologists with more than ten years of experience, 19% reported following the SmPC. Among dermatologists with a patient base >200 (patients treated with biologic agents for psoriasis), 19% reported following the SmPC compared to 54% of practitioners with less than 50 patients. The mean age of dermatologists following the SmPC was 41 years vs. 47 years for those not following the SmPC., Discussion: The majority of practitioners do not follow recommendations on discontinuation of biologic agents before the planning of pregnancy by patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Psoriasis is a skin inflammatory condition for which significant progress has been made in its management by the use of targeted biological drugs. Detection of latent M. tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is mandatory before starting biotherapy that is associated with reactivation risk. Together with evaluation of TB risk factors and chest radiographs, tuberculin skin tests (TST) and/or blood interferon-γ-release assays (IGRA), like the QuantiFERON (QFT), are usually performed to diagnose M. tuberculosis infection. Using this approach, 14/49 psoriatic patients prospectively included in this study were identified as LTBI (14 TST + , induration size ≥ 10mm, 8 QFT + ), and 7/14 received prophylactic anti-TB treatment, the other 7 reporting past-treatment. As the specificity and sensitivity of these tests were challenged, we evaluated the added value of an IGRA in response to a mycobacterial antigen associated with latency, the heparin-binding haemagglutinin (HBHA). All but one TST + patient had a positive HBHA-IGRA, indicating higher sensitivity than the QFT. The HBHA-IGRA was also positive for 12/35 TST - QFT - patients. Measurement for 15 psoriatic patients (12 with HBHA-IGRA + ) of 8 chemokines in addition to IFN-γ revealed a broad array of HBHA-induced chemokines for TST + QFT - and TST - QFT - patients, compared to a more restricted pattern for TST + QFT + patients. This allowed us to define subgroups within psoriatic patients characterized by different immune responses to M. tuberculosis antigens that may be associated to different risk levels of reactivation of the infection. This approach may help in prioritizing patients who should receive prophylactic anti-TB treatment before starting biotherapies in order to reduce their number., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Benhadou, Dirix, Domont, Willaert, Van Praet, Locht, Mascart and Corbière.)

Psoriasis is a common chronic skin disorder characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation with altered differentiation accompanied by inflammation and increased angiogenesis. It remains unclear whether the first events that initiate psoriasis development occur in keratinocytes or inflammatory cells. Here, using different psoriasis mouse models, we showed that conditional deletion of Flt1 or Nrp1 in epidermal cells inhibited psoriasis mediated by Vegfa overexpression or c-Jun/JunB deletion. Administration of anti-Nrp1 antibody reverted the psoriasis phenotype. Using transcriptional and chromatin profiling of epidermal cells following Vegfa overexpression together with Flt1 or Nrp1 deletion, we identified the gene regulatory network regulated by Vegfa / Nrp1 / Flt1 during psoriasis development and uncovered a key role of Fosl1 in regulating the chromatin remodeling mediated by Vegfa overexpression in keratinocytes. In conclusion, our study identifies an epidermal autonomous function of Vegfa/Nrp1/Flt1 that mediates psoriatic-like disease and demonstrates the clinical relevance of blocking Vegfa/Nrp1/Flt1 axis in psoriasis., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC).)

Background: Psoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory skin disorder, which can significantly impact quality of life. Despite major breakthroughs in our understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriasis, the chronological order of the underlying mechanisms leading to the development of psoriatic plaques remains to be completely understood., Summary: Although psoriasis is classically perceived as a T-cell disease, it is now well recognized that T lymphocytes do not function in exclusivity. This theory is supported by evidence from transgenic murine models that develop marked psoriasiform disease. In addition, immune cells and cytokines regulate both early and late events involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Key Messages: Psoriasis is a complex disease - a dynamic interplay between immune cells, keratinocytes, and various other skin-resident cells, such as endothelial and immune cells. The contribution of each cell type is crucial in the initiation and maintenance phases of psoriatic alterations., (© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Recognition of psoriasis as a chronic systemic inflammatory condition rather than just a skin disease is now widely accepted in the medical community. Association with joint involvement and depressive symptoms has been established for many years and several studies demonstrated an increased risk for comorbidities. These include the metabolic syndrome, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and an increased incidence of cardiovascular events among those patients.

Psoriasis is a frequent chronic inflammatory skin disease. Physiopathological mechanisms are still partially unclear. Psoriasis results of the influence of environmental factors on a complex genetic background. Clinical presentations are various, from the classical erythematous plaques-type to the pustulosis forms. Psoriasis can be associated with some other inflammatory diseases like psoriatic arthritis and Crohn's disease. Considered for long as a benign entity, psoriasis can significantly impair patient's quality of life. Some serious forms like generalized erythrodermia and generalized pustulosis can affect the vital prognosis. The treatment of the patient requires a slight collaboration between the patient, the dermatologist and the attending physician.