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Purpose: Currently, in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis (PsO) there is a lack of evidence demonstrating optimal biologic treatment response with respect to disease duration. The aim of this post-hoc analysis, using real world data from the Psoriasis Study of Health Outcomes (PSoHO), is to provide evidence if early intervention with biologics is associated with better treatment outcomes and if there is any difference among drug classes or individual biologics., Materials and Methods: For this post-hoc analysis patients were categorised into two subgroups according to shorter (≤2 years) or longer (>2 years) disease duration. Analysis was performed on anti-interleukin (IL)-17A cohort vs other biologics cohort, anti-IL-17A vs other drug classes, and pairwise comparisons of ixekizumab vs individual biologics, provided that the statistical models converged. Analysis investigated the association of disease duration with the proportion of patients achieving 100% improvement in Psoriasis Area Severity Index score (PASI 100) at week 12. Adjusted comparative analyses, reported as odds ratio (OR), were performed using Frequentist Model Averaging (FMA) for each cohort or treatments within each subcategory of the subgroups., Results: At week 12, anti-IL-17A and other biologics cohorts displayed minimal differences in numerical response rate for PASI 100 with respect to disease duration. The anti-IL-17A cohort showed a higher numerical PASI 100 response rate compared to the other biologic cohort irrespective of disease duration (≤2 years: 36.7% vs 21.8%; >2 years: 35.8% vs 21.9%)., Conclusion: Overall, the results do not clearly indicate that treating patients early is critical in achieving optimal patient outcomes. Furthermore, patients treated with ixekizumab show numerically higher response rates relative to other individual biologics irrespective of disease duration.

Real-world data on the effectiveness and safety of tildrakizumab, an interleukin 23p19 inhibitor, in Switzerland is limited. The objectives of this analysis were to assess the effectiveness and safety of tildrakizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Switzerland. Twenty-eight adults from the Swiss Dermatology Network for Targeted Therapies registry (SDNTT), who were on tildrakizumab treatment and had at least 3 months' follow-up, were enrolled in this prospective, multicentre study. No missing data imputation was performed. The median Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) decreased from 9.5 at baseline to 2.1 and 0.3 (both p < 0.001) after 3 and 18 months, respectively, of tildrakizumab treatment. After 3 months, 76.9%/30.8% patients reached an absolute PASI <  3/ < 1. These rates increased to 85.7%/57.1% after 18 months of treatment. The proportions of patients achieving PASI 90/100 responses were 47.8%/30.4% at month 6 and 42.9%/14.3% at month 18. A significant improvement in quality of life up to 18 months of follow-up was observed as measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index. There were no treatment discontinuations due to adverse events. This real-world registry provides robust evidence supporting the long-term effectiveness and favourable safety profile of tildrakizumab in treating patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

Real-world data on anatomically localized psoriasis and its response to systemic therapy across different age-groups and sexes is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the severity and distribution of psoriasis over time in female and male patients receiving systemic therapies, categorized by age within the Swiss psoriasis registry (SDNTT). Patient-data was obtained over 11 years through the SDNTT. The localized Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (locPASI) of the head, trunk, upper and lower extremities was analyzed over two years following the start of systemic non-/biologic treatment. A total of 316 female and 517 male patients were analyzed. Male patients had a higher baseline locPASI for legs, trunk and arms (p < 0.001), but not for the head (p = 0.961). The locPASI for the head in younger female patients (18-40 years) had a higher score than those aged 55 + (p = 0.022) and after two years, middle aged (41-54) showed a lower score compared to younger patients (p = 0.045). Younger male patients revealed a lower score after two years of therapy in the leg- and arm-area compared to older (p = 0.018 and p = 0.048, respectively). Female patients on non-biologics had a fast initial response, converging with male patients' scores over 24 months. Over 75% locPASI reduction was observed for female head-area (81.4%), male trunk (82.7%) and legs (76.1%). Absolute locPASI ≤ 2 was achieved 3-6 months for all locations with interleukin (IL)-17, IL-12/23 and IL-23-inhibitors, except for the legs of male patients on anti-IL-17 and female patients on anti-IL-12/23 and -IL-23. After two years, male patients did not achieve a locPASI ≤ 2 for any biologic-treatment in the legs, nor for the arms on anti-TNF-α. Significant disparities in localized PASI were observed between female and male patients. The age, sex and severity of distinct localizations should be considered to optimize treatment goals., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Biologics are among the most effective therapies for psoriasis. However, many patients are only introduced to them at advanced stages of the disease course., Objectives: Our aim was to identify predictors of initiating biologic therapy in patients with psoriasis and compare patients initiating biologics early versus late in their disease course., Methods: Kaplan-Meier curves visualized time to biologic initiation, while Cox regression models further explored variables as predictors of biologic initiation. Mann-Whitney U and chi-squared tests compared patients who started biologics early with those who began biologics later in the disease course., Results: Our primary analysis included 233 psoriasis patients. Cox regression showed that age at diagnosis (P = 0.007), general physical well-being (P = 0.02), and nail psoriasis severity (P = 0.02) were significantly associated with time to biologic initiation. Our secondary analysis, the comparisons between patients starting biologics early versus later in the disease course, included a total of 378 patients. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age at diagnosis was 34.5 (25.0-51.2) years for patients initiating biologics within 5 years, compared to 22.0 (15.0-32.8) years for patients initiating biologics later (P < 0.0001). The median (IQR) age at initiation was 37.0 (27.0-53.2) and 45.0 (36.0-55.0) years for patients initiating biologics earlier versus later than 5 years (P = 0.04)., Conclusions: Age at diagnosis, general well-being, and severity of nail psoriasis significantly predicted future initiation of biologic treatment. Patients initiating biologics early in their disease course were generally older at diagnosis but younger at the time of biologic initiation compared to patients initiating biologics later in their disease course., (© 2024 the International Society of Dermatology.)

Generalized pustular rashes have various etiologies and can be challenging to diagnose and manage at first presentation. The authors provide an in-depth analysis of common pustular skin eruptions including generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, focusing on their pathophysiology, triggers, clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and management strategies. The article also highlights recent advances in genetic research and biologic therapies for GPP and the future directions in personalized medicine and prevention strategies., Competing Interests: Disclosure None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Psoriasis is a disease that often requires prolonged systemic treatment. It is important to determine the safety of available therapies. There is currently little insight into sex-specific differences in the safety of systemic psoriasis therapies., Objectives: To examine the real-world, long-term safety of systemic psoriasis therapies with sex stratification in drug-related adverse events (ADRs)., Methods: Ten-year data from adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis requiring systemic treatment (conventional systemic therapies [CST], biologics) were obtained from the Swiss psoriasis registry (SDNTT). ADRs were categorized according to the international terminology Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). Safety was assessed by calculating event rates per 100 patient-years (PY). We used descriptive statistics for patient and disease characteristics, and binomial and t-tests to compare treatment groups and sex., Results: In total, 791 patients (290 females) were included with a mean age of 46 years. 358 (45%) received CSTs and 433 (55%) biologics; both groups had similar baseline characteristics except for more joint involvement in patients using biologics (26.86% vs. 14.8%, p < 0.0001). CSTs were associated with a 2.2-fold higher ADR rate (40.43/100 PY vs. 18.22/100 PY, p < 0.0001) and an 8.0-fold higher drug-related discontinuation rate than biologics (0.16/PY vs. 0.02/PY, p < 0.0001). Trends showed non-significant higher serious adverse event rates per 100 PY for biologics (8.19, CI 6.87-9.68) compared to CSTs (7.08, CI 5.39-9.13) (p = 0.3922). Sex stratification revealed a significantly higher overall ADR rate for all treatments in females (1.8-fold for CSTs [57.30/100 PY vs. 31.69/100 PY] and 2.0-fold for biologics [27.36/100 PY vs. 13.9/100 PY], p < 0.0001), and drug-related discontinuation rates for most CSTs in females., Conclusion: Females were associated with a significantly higher rate of ADRs and drug-related discontinuation rates. Sex stratification should be taken into consideration when designing studies in the patient-tailored management of psoriasis., (© 2023 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Quality of life impairment in dermatology patients and severity of psoriasis are quantified by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), respectively. The aim of this study is to compare the correlation between PASI and DLQI in patients from different geographical areas and to identify predictors of high DLQI across geographical regions. Correlations between PASI and DLQI were evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation tests and quantile regression. The study included 1,158 patients with psoriasis, with a median (interquartile range) PASI and DLQI of 6.0 (3.0-12.0) and 8.0 (4.0-15.0), respectively. Correlations were demonstrated between PASI and DLQI, both overall and stratified by geographical region. Quantile (median) regression yielded coefficients of 0.75 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.62, 0.88) for Switzerland, 0.50 (95% CI 0.42, 0.58) for Latin America, 0.34 (95% CI 0.16, 0.51) for Asia, and 0.31 (95% CI 0.08, 0.53) for the USA. Current age, age at diagnosis, sex, body mass index, and psoriasis arthritis affected DLQI in Latin America, while education had an impact among patients treated in Switzerland. Few countries were included within each continent; hence, more data from different countries are necessary for generalizability. The study showed correlations between PASI and DLQI among patients in all included geographical regions. The patients' characteristics affecting DLQI vary worldwide.

Scalp psoriasis affects approximately 80% of patients with psoriasis and can negatively impact their quality of life. This post hoc analysis of the VOYAGE 2 Phase III randomized clinical trial evaluated scalp response to guselkumab treatment and its association with skin response and patient-reported outcomes. The study included patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and baseline scalp psoriasis who were initially randomized to receive guselkumab. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on their achievement of a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 90 response at week 28: responder continuation, non-responder continuation and responder withdrawal. In all 3 groups, mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index head and scalp-specific Investigator's Global Assessment scores improved through week 28. In the responder withdrawal group, these scores worsened after treatment withdrawal at week 28, but remained stable through week 48 in both continuation groups. Trends in Dermatology Life Quality Index and Psoriasis Symptoms and Signs Diary itch scores mirrored those of mean scalp-specific Investigator's Global Assessment scores through week 48. Within-subject correlations were 0.83 between scalp-specific Investigator's Global Assessment and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index head scores and 0.78 between scalp-specific Investigator's Global Assessment and Psoriasis Symptoms and Signs Diary itch scores. Through week 252, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index head scores remained stable in the responder continuation group, improved in the non-responder continuation group and rapidly improved by week 84 in the responder withdrawal group after retreatment.

Background: Sufficient data on access to systemic treatment for patients with psoriasis living in Latin America (LA) including Brazil and Chile are lacking. Understanding the availability and limiting factors of access to treatments can help to improve patient care and decrease long-term healthcare costs., Objectives: In association with the Global Psoriasis Atlas, this cross-sectional survey study analysed the availability and insurance reimbursement of systemic treatments for adult patients with psoriasis in Brazil and Chile., Methods: A multicentre, cross-sectional Global Healthcare Study on Psoriasis was performed in Brazil and Chile in 2020. For each eligible adult patient with psoriasis, doctors and nurses completed a 48-item questionnaire about clinical aspects of psoriasis including the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), body surface area (BSA) score and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), as well as the availability of systemic treatments and insurance reimbursement status. Between-country differences were compared with Wilcoxon rank sum tests for continuous variables, and a χ2-test or Fisher's exact test, where appropriate, for categorical variables. The median and interquartile range (IQR) was calculated for non-normal distributed data., Results: A total of 1424 patients with psoriasis from 43 centres [27 centres in Brazil (n = 826) and 16 in Chile (n = 598)], were included with a mean (SD) age of 49.1 (16.3) and 49.2 (15.1) years, respectively. Unstratified analyses revealed that patients with psoriasis in Chile had more severe disease than those in Brazil [PASI 11.6 vs. 8.4 (P < 0.001) and BSA 14.7 vs. 12.0 (P = 0.003), respectively]. For patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, defined as PASI and/or BSA ≥ 10, systemic nonbiologic drugs were available (81.2% in Brazil and 65.3% in Chile, P ≤ 0.001), but only 37.0% of patients in Brazil and 27.3% in Chile received biologics (P = 0.01). Lack of availability and/or lack of insurance reimbursement for biologic drugs for patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis was reported for 22.2% (50 of 225) in Brazil and 67.9% (148 of 218) in Chile (P < 0.001). Patients with no access to biologic therapies due to lack of availability/insurance reimbursement had a median PASI of 9.15 (IQR 3.00-14.25) in Brazil and 12.0 (IQR 5.00-19.00) in Chile (P = 0.007), as well as a median BSA of 7.0 (IQR 3.00-15.00) and 12.0 (IQR 5.00-22.50) (P = 0.002), and median DLQI of 11.0 (6.00-15.00) and 21.0 (6.50-25.00) (P = 0.007), respectively., Conclusions: Chilean patients had significantly more severe psoriasis compared with Brazilian patients in our study. While nonbiologic treatments for moderate-to-severe psoriasis were available in both LA countries, there is a high need for improvement in access to more effective psoriasis treatments including biologics. Our results highlight a significant gap between treatment recommendations in international psoriasis guidelines and real-world situations in Brazil and Chile., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest J.-T.M. is an employee of USZ and has served as an advisor and/or received speaking fees and/or participated in clinical trials sponsored by AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, LEO Pharma, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Roche, Sanofi and UCB. L.V.M. has served as an advisor and/or received speaking fees and/or participated in clinical trials sponsored by Almirall, Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Eli Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, Roche and Sanofi. F.V. has served as an advisor and/or received speaking fees and/or participated in clinical trials sponsored by AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, LEO Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer and Sanofi. C.D.L.C. has served as an advisor and/or received speaking fees and/or participated in clinical trials sponsored by AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Coherus, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB. C.V.-K. has served in the past as an advisor for AbbVie and Sanofi. D.A. has served as an advisor and/or received speaking fees and/or participated in clinical trials sponsored by AbbVie, Janssen-Cilag and LEO Pharma. W.G.C. is/has served as an advisor and/or received speaking fees for AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen-Cilag, Eli Lilly, LEO Pharma, Novartis, Sanofi and UCB. A.C. is/has served as a scientific consultant, speaker or clinical study investigator for AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, LEO Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB. A.E. has received research funding from AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pfizer, the Danish National Psoriasis Foundation, the Simon Spies Foundation and the Kgl Hofbundtmager Aage Bang Foundation, and honoraria as a consultant and/or speaker from AbbVie, Almirall, Bristol Myers Squibb, Dermavant, Eli Lilly and Company, Galápagos NV, Galderma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, LEO Pharma, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis Co. Ltd, Sun Pharmaceuticals, UCB, Union Therapeutics and Zuellig Pharma Ltd. J.J.W. is or has been an investigator, consultant or speaker for AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, Arcutis, Aristea Therapeutics, Bausch Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Dermavant, DermTech, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Eli Lilly, EPI Health, Galderma, Janssen, LEO Pharma, Mindera, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi Genzyme, Solius, Sun Pharmaceutical, UCB and Zerigo Health. J.P.T. is an advisor for AbbVie, Almirall, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Aslan Pharmaceuticals, Coloplast, Eli Lilly & Co, LEO Pharma, OM Pharma, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi Genzyme and Union Therapeutics, a speaker for AbbVie, Almirall, Eli Lilly & Co, LEO Pharma, Pfizer, Regeneron and Sanofi Genzyme, and received research grants from Pfizer, Regeneron and Sanofi Genzyme. R.R. is/has served as a scientific consultant, speaker or clinical study investigator for AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Janssen-Cilag, LEO Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, TEVA and UCB. C.E.M.G. is supported in part by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Manchester Biomedical Research Centre; and has received honoraria and/or research grants from AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, AnaptysBio, BMS, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company, Galderma, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, LEO Pharma, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sun Pharmaceuticals and UCB Pharma., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Association of Dermatologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: In routine clinical care, important treatment outcomes among patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) have been shown to vary according to patient demographics and disease characteristics. This study aimed to provide direct comparative effectiveness data at week 12 between anti-interleukin (IL)-17A biologics relative to other approved biologics for the treatment of PsO across seven clinically relevant patient subgroups in the real-world setting., Methods: From the international, non-interventional Psoriasis Study of Health Outcomes (PSoHO), 1981 patients with moderate-to-severe PsO were grouped a priori according to seven clinically relevant demographic and disease variables with binary categories, which were sex (male or female), age (< 65 or ≥ 65 years), body mass index (≤ 30 or > 30 kg/m 2 ), race (White or Asian), PsO disease duration (< 15 or ≥ 15 years), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) comorbidity (present or absent), and prior biologic use (never or ≥ 1). Across these subgroups, effectiveness was compared between the anti-IL-17A cohort (ixekizumab, secukinumab) versus all other approved biologics and ixekizumab versus five individual biologics. The proportion of patients in each subgroup who achieved 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI90) and/or static Physician Global Assessment (sPGA) 0/1, PASI100, or PASI90 at week 12 were assessed. Comparative analyses were conducted using frequentist model averaging (FMA). Missing data were imputed using non-responder imputation., Results: Patients in each of the seven subgroups achieved similar response rates to those of the overall treatment cohort, apart from patients with PsA treated with other biologics who had 7-10% lower response rates. Consequently, patients with comorbid PsA had significantly higher odds of achieving skin clearance at week 12 with anti-IL-17A biologics compared to other biologics. Patients in all subgroups had significantly higher odds of achieving PASI90 and/or sPGA (0,1), PASI100, and PASI90 in the anti-IL-17A cohort relative to the other biologics cohort, except for the Asian subgroup. No sex- or age-specific differences in treatment effectiveness after 12 weeks were identified, neither between the treatment cohorts nor between the individual treatment comparisons., Conclusions: Despite relative consistency of comparative treatment effectiveness across subgroups, the presence of comorbid PsA may affect a patient's clinical response to some treatments., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with several important medical comorbidities. There are scant data available on the comorbidities of patients with psoriasis in South America., Aim: To examine the comorbidity profile of adult patients with psoriasis in Chile and its association with severity of psoriasis., Methods: This was a multicentre, cross-sectional study involving 16 hospitals and clinics in Chile, which used a 48-item questionnaire to study clinician- and patient-reported outcomes and comorbidities. Inferential analyses were performed by psoriasis severity, using Fisher exact test, Student t-test and multivariable logistic regression., Results: In total, 598 adult patients with psoriasis were included (51.1% male; mean age 49.2 ± 15.1 years); 48.5% mild and 51.4% moderate to severe; Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 11.6 ± 11.5; body surface area 14.7 ± 18.2%. Plaque psoriasis was the most common phenotype (90.2%), followed by guttate (13.4%). Psoriatic arthritis occurred in 27.3% of patients. Comorbidities were reported in 60.2% of all patients with psoriasis. Frequent concomitant diseases were obesity (25.3%), hypertension (24.3%), Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (18.7%), dyslipidaemia (17.4%), metabolic syndrome (16.7%) and depression (14.4%). After adjustment, significant associations were found between moderate to severe psoriasis and obesity, T2DM and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) compared with mild psoriasis., Conclusions: We report a large study of comorbidities, including depression, dyslipidaemia, T2DM and NAFLD, in people with psoriasis in Chile. The prevalence of comorbidities with psoriasis in Chile appears similar to that found in Western countries, and emphasizes the importance of assessing patients with psoriasis for risk factors for and presence of, comorbid disease in a multidisciplinary setting., (© 2022 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Association of Dermatologists.)

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis, immune cell infiltration and vascular remodeling. Despite the emerging recognition of vascular normalization as a potential strategy for managing psoriasis, an in-depth delineation of the remodeled dermal vasculature has been missing. In this study, we exploited 5' single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the transcriptomic alterations in different subpopulations of blood vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells directly isolated from psoriatic and healthy human skin. Individual subtypes of endothelial cells underwent specific molecular repatterning associated with cell adhesion and extracellular matrix organization. Blood capillaries, in particular, showed upregulation of the melanoma cell adhesion molecule as well as its binding partners and adopted postcapillary venule‒like characteristics during chronic inflammation that are more permissive to leukocyte transmigration. We also identified psoriasis-specific interactions between cis-regulatory enhancers and promoters for each endothelial cell subtype, revealing the dysregulated gene regulatory networks in psoriasis. Together, our results provide more insights into the specific transcriptional responses and epigenetic signatures of endothelial cells lining different vessel compartments in chronic skin inflammation., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Identifying the optimal long-term biologic therapy for patients with psoriasis is often done through trial and error., Objective: To identify the optimal biologic therapy for individual patients with psoriasis using predictive statistical and machine learning models., Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study used data from Danish nationwide registries, primarily DERMBIO, and included adult patients treated for moderate-to-severe psoriasis with biologics. Data were processed and analyzed between spring 2021 and spring 2022., Main Outcomes and Measures: Patient clusters of clinical relevance were identified and their success rates estimated for each drug. Furthermore, predictive prognostic models to identify optimal biologic treatment at the individual level based on data from nationwide registries were evaluated., Results: Assuming a success criterion of 3 years of sustained treatment, this study included 2034 patients with a total of 3452 treatment series. Most treatment series involved male patients (2147 [62.2%]) originating from Denmark (3190 [92.4%]), and 2414 (69.9%) had finished an education longer than primary school. The average ages were 24.9 years at psoriasis diagnosis and 45.5 years at initiation of biologic therapy. Gradient-boosted decision trees and logistic regression were able to predict a specific cytokine target (eg, interleukin-17 inhibition) associated with a successful treatment with accuracies of 63.6% and 59.2%, and top 2 accuracies of 95.9% and 93.9%. When predicting specific drugs resulting in success, gradient boost and logistic regression had accuracies of 48.5% and 44.4%, top 2 accuracies of 77.6% and 75.9%, and top 3 accuracies of 89.9% and 89.0%., Conclusions and Relevance: Of the treatment prediction models used in this cohort study of patients with psoriasis, gradient-boosted decision trees performed significantly better than logistic regression when predicting specific biologic therapy (by drug as well as target) leading to a treatment duration of at least 3 years without discontinuation. Predicting the optimal biologic could benefit patients and clinicians by minimizing the number of failed treatment attempts.

Importance: A clear dosing regimen for methotrexate in psoriasis is lacking, and this might lead to a suboptimal treatment. Because methotrexate is affordable and globally available, a uniform dosing regimen could potentially optimize the treatment of patients with psoriasis worldwide., Objective: To reach international consensus among psoriasis experts on a uniform dosing regimen for treatment with methotrexate in adult and pediatric patients with psoriasis and identify potential future research topics., Design, Setting, and Participants: Between September 2020 and March 2021, a survey study with a modified eDelphi procedure that was developed and distributed by the Amsterdam University Medical Center and completed by 180 participants worldwide (55 [30.6%] resided in non-Western countries) was conducted in 3 rounds. The proposals on which no consensus was reached were discussed in a conference meeting (June 2021). Participants voted on 21 proposals with a 9-point scale (1-3 disagree, 4-6 neither agree nor disagree, 7-9 agree) and were recruited through the Skin Inflammation and Psoriasis International Network and European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology in June 2020. Apart from being a dermatologist/dermatology resident, there were no specific criteria for participation in the survey. The participants worked mainly at a university hospital (97 [53.9%]) and were experienced in treating patients with psoriasis with methotrexate (163 [91.6%] had more than 10 years of experience)., Main Outcomes and Measures: In a survey with eDelphi procedure, we tried to reach consensus on 21 proposals. Consensus was defined as less than 15% voting disagree (1-3). For the consensus meeting, consensus was defined as less than 30% voting disagree., Results: Of 251 participants, 180 (71.7%) completed all 3 survey rounds, and 58 participants (23.1%) joined the conference meeting. Consensus was achieved on 11 proposals in round 1, 3 proposals in round 2, and 2 proposals in round 3. In the consensus meeting, consensus was achieved on 4 proposals. More research is needed, especially for the proposals on folic acid and the dosing of methotrexate for treating subpopulations such as children and vulnerable patients., Conclusions and Relevance: In this eDelphi consensus study, consensus was reached on 20 of 21 proposals involving methotrexate dosing in patients with psoriasis. This consensus may potentially be used to harmonize the treatment with methotrexate in patients with psoriasis.

Importance: Biologics are important in treating patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). However, to our knowledge, data on their real-life performance and treatment patterns in HS are limited., Objective: To examine the drug survival of biologic therapies for HS in a real-world setting., Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included all patients with HS between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2018, who were treated with biologics at the 5 academic hospital clinics where all biologic treatment for HS is conducted in Denmark. Biologics included adalimumab, anakinra, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, secukinumab, and ustekinumab. Data were analyzed between June 1, 2021, and June 20, 2021., Main Outcomes and Measures: Drug survival was depicted through Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox regression models were used to calculate adjusted (age, sex, previous number of biologic treatment series) hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% CIs for the risk of treatment discontinuation. Switching patterns were visualized through a Sankey diagram., Results: The study comprised 241 patients (176 women [61.8%]; total of 386 treatment series) with a mean (SD) age of 41.8 (12.6) years at initiation of first biologic therapy. There were a total of 256 (189 [73.8%] biologic naive), 66 (32 [48.5%] biologic naive), 23 (9 [39.1%] biologic naive), and 22 (9 [40.9%] biologic naive) treatment series with adalimumab, infliximab, etanercept, and ustekinumab, respectively. The median time to discontinuation was 36.0 (IQR, 21.9-63.0), 28.7 (IQR, 15.1-62.9), 26.0 (IQR, 16.9-155.9), and 17.9 weeks (IQR, 12.9-41.0) for adalimumab, infliximab, ustekinumab and etanercept, respectively. The risk of drug discontinuation was significantly higher for etanercept compared with adalimumab (aHR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.16-2.82), infliximab (aHR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.03-3.05), and ustekinumab (aHR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.12-5.52), whereas no difference was observed when comparing these 3 therapies with each other. We found no significant differences in drug survival for biologic-naive vs nonnaive treatment series. Increasing C-reactive protein levels (aHR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.03) and concomitant antibiotic treatment (aHR, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.36-5.86) were associated with the risk of discontinuing infliximab therapy. Men (aHR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.51-0.91) had a reduced risk of discontinuing use of adalimumab., Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, drug survival was comparable between adalimumab, infliximab, and ustekinumab but significantly lower for etanercept. There were no differences in drug survival among biologic-naive and nonnaive patients.

Apremilast (Otezla ® ) is an oral small molecule phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor approved for the treatment of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and oral ulcers associated with Behçet's disease. While PDE4 inhibition overall is mechanistically understood, the effect of apremilast on the innate immune response, particularly inflammasome activation, remains unknown. Here, we assessed the effect of apremilast in a psoriasis mouse model and primary human cells. Psoriatic lesion development in vivo was studied in K5.Stat3C transgenic mice treated with apremilast for 2 weeks, resulting in a moderate (2 mg/kg/day) to significant (6 mg/kg/day) resolution of inflamed plaques after 2-week treatment. Concomitantly, epidermal thickness dramatically decreased, the cutaneous immune cell infiltrate was reduced, and proinflammatory cytokines were significantly downregulated. Additionally, apremilast significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide- or anti-CD3-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Notably, inflammasome activation and secretion of IL-1β were not inhibited by apremilast in PBMCs and in human primary keratinocytes. Collectively, apremilast effectively alleviated the psoriatic phenotype of K5.Stat3 transgenic mice, further substantiating PDE4 inhibitor-efficiency in targeting key clinical, histopathological and inflammatory features of psoriasis. Despite lacking direct effect on inflammasome activation, reduced priming of inflammasome components upon apremilast treatment reflected the indirect benefit of PDE4 inhibition in reducing inflammation.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder underpinned by dysregulated cytokine signaling. Drugs neutralizing the common p40 subunit of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-23 represented a therapeutic breakthrough; however, new drugs that block the IL-23p19 subunit and spare IL-12 are more effective, suggesting a regulatory function of IL-12. To pinpoint the cell type and underlying mechanism of IL-12–mediated immune regulation in psoriasis, we generated a conditional Il12rb2 -knockout (KO)/reporter mouse strain. We detected Il12rb2 expression in T cells and a specific subset of interfollicular (IF) keratinocytes. Analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) data from patients with psoriasis confirmed a similar expression pattern in the human skin. Deletion of Il12rb2 across the hematopoietic compartment did not alter the development of Aldara-induced psoriasiform inflammation. However, depletion of Il12rb2 in keratinocytes exacerbated disease development, phenocopying the Il12rb2 germline knockout. Protective IL-12 signaling blocked the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, maintained skin barrier integrity, and diminished disease-driving IL-23/type 3 immune circuits. In line, specific IL-23p19 blockade led to a more profound reduction of psoriatic keratinocyte expression signatures in the skin of patients with psoriasis than combined IL-12/IL-23 inhibition. Collectively, we provide a potential explanation for the superior efficacy of IL-23p19 inhibitors in psoriasis and describe an unperceived role of IL-12 in maintaining skin epithelial cell homeostasis.

Physicians' and patients' perspectives can vary significantly. For a long time, physicians considered psoriasis a non-pruritic dermatosis until a survey found pruritus to be the most bothersome symptom among psoriasis patients. In our study, we wanted to get an insight into the factors that affect patients and evaluate whether gender differences exist. A link of an anonymous online survey ( www.fightpsoriasis.ch ) with 24 questions was placed on the website of the Swiss Psoriasis and Vitiligo Patient Association ( www.spvg.ch ) from May 2016 until June 2017. 3164 persons participated in this online survey, of which 1979 were diagnosed with psoriasis. Significantly more females than males were affected by psoriatic pruritus [713 (36%) vs. 500 (25.3%), p ≤ 0.001] and 756 (39.7%) of all patients identified pruritus as the most life quality-limiting factor. Fewer women reported high satisfaction with their therapy compared to men [96 (4.9%) vs. 110 (5.6%), p ≤ 0.015]. Pruritus remains the most bothersome symptom and women were more often affected by it, leading to a lower treatment satisfaction among female patients.

Background: Large-scale data on the association between psoriasis and atopic diseases are scarce., Objectives: To evaluate the concomitant prevalence of atopic conditions and psoriasis., Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, employees between 16 and 70 years of age were examined in more than 400 German companies by dermatologists, between 2006 and 2014. Two different definitions of atopic conditions were applied: "current atopic condition" (point prevalence) and "current or previous atopic condition" (lifetime prevalence). Bivariate comparisons as well as logistic regression analyses controlling for age and sex were performed., Results: In total, 90,265 persons were included in the study; 58.5% male; mean age: 43.2 ± 10.7 years. Point prevalence for psoriasis was 2.0% (n = 1,788), and lifetime prevalence of atopic conditions was 32.7% (n = 29,501). Atopic conditions were significantly less frequent (29.6%, n = 530) in persons with psoriasis compared to those without psoriasis (32.7 %, n = 28,917; OR = 0.865; CI: 0.781 - 0.959). Concurrent and prior atopic conditions were observed in 13.7% (n = 245) of persons with psoriasis versus 15.6% without psoriasis (n = 13,835; OR = 0.857; CI: 0.748-0.981). Controlling for age and sex, significant differences were found between persons with and without psoriasis for symptomatic atopic conditions such as hypersensitivity to pollen (OR = 0.864; CI: 0.748-0.997) and animal epithelia (OR = 0.764; CI: 0.609-0.958)., Conclusion: Even though the prevalence of atopic diseases is less frequent in individuals with psoriasis than in those without psoriasis, this study suggests that atopic conditions such as atopic dermatitis may also play a relevant role in psoriasis.

Topical treatment is crucial for the successful management of plaque psoriasis. Topicals are used either as a stand-alone therapy for mild psoriasis or else in combination with UV or systemic treatment for moderate-to-severe disease. For the choice of a suitable topical treatment, the formulation matters and not just the active substances. This expert opinion paper was developed via a non-structured consensus process by Swiss dermatologists in hospitals and private practices to illustrate the current treatment options to general practitioners and dermatologists in Switzerland. Defining treatment goals together with the patient is crucial and increases treatment adherence. Patients' personal preferences and pre-existing experiences should be considered and their satisfaction with treatment and outcome regularly assessed. During the induction phase of "classical" mild-to-moderate psoriasis, the fixed combination of topical calcipotriol (Cal) 50 μg/g and betamethasone dipropionate (BD) 0.5 mg/g once daily is frequently used for 4-8 weeks. During the maintenance phase, a twice weekly (proactive) management has proved to reduce the risk of relapse. Of the fixed combinations, Cal/BD aerosol foam is the most effective formulation. However, the individual choice of formulation should be based on a patient's preference and the location of the psoriatic plaques. Tailored recommendations are given for the topical management of specific areas (scalp, facial, intertriginous/genital, or palmoplantar lesions), certain symptoms (hyperkeratotic or hyperinflammatory forms) as well as during pregnancy or a period of breastfeeding. As concomitant basic therapy, several emollients are recommended. If topical treatment alone does not appear to be sufficient, the regimen should be escalated according to the Swiss S1-guideline for the systemic treatment of psoriasis., (© 2021 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Methotrexate (MTX) is a frequently used anti-psoriatic drug that is commonly recommended in international psoriasis guidelines. It is effective in treating skin lesions, nail changes and psoriatic arthritis. In 2017 a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial, commonly known as the METOP trial, was published assessing the effectiveness and safety of subcutaneous administration of methotrexate. Because trial data do not always relate to real-life data with unselected patient populations, we wanted to determine whether the data obtained in the METOP-trial correspond to real-life registry data from our Swiss Dermatology Network for Targeted Therapies (SDNTT). Data of 449 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who participated in the SDNTT registry between 2011 and 1st of July 2017 were analyzed. Only patients receiving methotrexate s.c. were included. 66 patients under MTX were included into this study. Baseline PASI was 6.3 ± 3.8 (SDNTT) compared to 15.9 ± 5.9 in the METOP trial. In our cohort, only 18% of all patients reached PASI 75 after 12 weeks, 6% showed a complete remission (PASI 100) compared to 41% and 4% in the METOP trial after 16 weeks. 22.7% of all patients showed increased liver enzymes in either study and nausea was seen in 15% (SDNTT) versus 22% (METOP) of patients. No severe adverse events were observed in our cohort. Compared to the METOP-trial, the response rates seen our real-world cohort were distinctly lower.

Psoriasis can involve the skin, joints, nails and cardiovascular system and result in a significant impairment in quality of life. Studies have shown a lower response rate to systemic anti-psoriatic therapies in smokers, and smoking is a trigger factor for psoriasis. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse the response to systemic therapies for psoriasis, with a focus on smoking. Prospectively collected data from patients with moderate to severe psoriasis included in the national psoriasis registries for Germany and Switzerland (PsoBest and SDNTT) were analysed. Therapy response was defined as reaching a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) reduction of 75%, PASI ≤ 3 or Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) ≤ 1. Out of 5,346 patients included in these registries, 1,264 met the inclusion criteria for this study. In the smoking group, 715 (60.6%) reached therapy response at month 3, compared with 358 (63.7%) in the non-smoking group (p ≤ 0.269), 659 (74.1%) vs. 330 (77%) reached therapy response at month 6 (p ≤ 0.097), and 504 (76.6%) vs. 272 (79.0%) at month 12 (p ≤ 0.611). Therefore, these data do not show that smoking affects the response rate of anti-psoriatic therapy after 3, 6 and 12 months.

IL-17 blockers are among the newer anti-psoriatic treatment options and little is known about the interclass switching. We have thus initiated a multi-center, multi-national, retrospective study to assess the treatment response of patients who were switched from one IL-17 blocker to another. Analysis consisted of data from patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who did not respond satisfactorily to one of the available IL-17 blockers (secukinumab, ixekizumab, brodalumab) and were subsequently switched to another drug of this class. After 12 weeks of treatment, patients' PASIs were evaluated. Treatment success was defined as reaching PASI 75 after 12 weeks. Topical treatment was allowed and used in all patients. 26 patients were included (13 male, 13 female) and 29 switches were evaluated. Overall, 29 switches in 21 patients were evaluated. 18 patients changed their therapy from secukinumab to ixekizumab, or in 7 cases to brodalumab. Brodalumab was used in 3 cases after failure of treatment with ixekizumab. Only in one case, non-response of brodalumab resulted in a therapy switch to secukinumab. In 15 (52%) cases, PASI 75 was reached. In 6 (20%) patients, the switch led to a PASI 50 response. No success of treatment was seen among 8 (28%) participants. When patients fail to respond or do not tolerate an IL-17 blocker, switching to another anti-IL-17A/RA is a promising viable option. Larger studies are needed to confirm our results.

Background: Delivery of health care to psoriasis patients plays an important role in the field of dermatology. Following the 2014 WHO resolution and the 2016 WHO global report, there has been an increase in the awareness of psoriasis among the general public. However, the perception of psoriasis by the general population remains unclear. The goal of the present study was to investigate the perception and assessment of psoriasis among the German population., Patients and Methods: Representative telephone survey among 2,001 adults using a standardized questionnaire. Analyses with respect to place of residence, age, gender and level of education were conducted in a descriptive manner., Results: Twenty-nine percent of participants were familiar with the term "Psoriasis"; 86 %, with the German designation "Schuppenflechte". Ninety-three percent considered the disease to be a significant burden for affected individuals; 59 % stated that there were effective drugs available for psoriasis; 9 % considered the disease to be communicable. Ten percent reported that they would not want to live in the same household as an affected individual; 23 % did not want to share the same swimming pool; and 27 % did not want to be in a personal relationship with someone affected. Twelve percent stated to be familiar with the WHO resolution on psoriasis; 6 % with the World Psoriasis Day; and 3 % with the "Bitte berühren" ("Please touch") campaign., Conclusions: Although a majority of the German population is familiar with the term "Schuppenflechte", there is a significant lack of knowledge about the disease as well as prejudice toward affected individuals. Further measures are required to improve the level of information and decrease stigmatization., (© 2018 Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Randomized controlled trials have shown the efficacy of systemic treatments in moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Clinical outcomes in psoriasis patients under real-world conditions are less well understood., Objective: This study compared Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI) improvement in all psoriasis patients registered in the Swiss Dermatology Network for Targeted Therapies. We asked whether outcomes differed between 4 treatment strategies, namely biologic monotherapy versus conventional systemic monotherapy, versus combined biologic and conventional systemic drugs, and versus therapy adaptation (switching from one type to another)., Methods: PASI and DLQI within 1 year after onset of systemic treatment, measured at 3, 6, and 12 months, were compared among the 4 groups using generalized linear mixed-effects models., Results: Between March 2011 and December 2014, 334 patients were included; 151 received conventional systemic therapeutics, 145 biologics, 13 combined treatment, and 25 had a therapy adaptation. With regard to the absolute PASI, neither the biologic cohort nor the combined treatment cohort significantly differed from the conventional systemic therapeutics cohort. The odds of reaching PASI90 was significantly increased with combined therapy compared to conventional systemic therapeutics (p = 0.043) and decreased with a higher body mass index (p = 0.041). At visits 3 and 4, the PASI was generally lower than at visit 2 (visit 3 vs. visit 2, p = 0.0019; visit 4 vs. visit 2, p < 0.001). After 12 months, patients with biologic treatment had a significantly lower DLQI than those with conventional systemic therapeutics (p = 0.001)., Conclusion: This study suggests that after 1 year of treatment, biologics are superior in improving the subjective disease burden compared to conventional systemic drugs., (© 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: The Swiss psoriasis registry SDNTT (Swiss Dermatology Network for Targeted Therapies) records the long-term safety and effectiveness of systemic treatment regimens for psoriasis., Patients and Methods: Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis are included in the SDNTT when treatment with a conventional systemic agent or biologic is initiated that was not previously used by the respective patient. Patients are followed over a 5-year period. Clinical data are obtained every 3-6 months using standardized case report forms. Here, baseline data and follow-up data for 1 year of patients included from October 2011 until December 2014 were analyzed., Results: Within 39 months, 323 patients from 7 tertiary dermatology centers in Switzerland were recruited in the SDNTT; 165 patients received biologics and 158 conventional systemic therapies. Patients treated with biologics had a significantly higher severity (PASI 11.3 vs. 9.2, BSA 15.6 vs.11.9, psoriatic arthritis 36.4 vs. 10.8%; p ≤ 0.005, p ≤ 0.013, p ≤ 0.001) and a longer duration of illness (19.2 vs. 14.4 years, p ≤ 0.003) compared to patients starting a conventional systemic treatment. PASI reduction was satisfying in both treatment groups, with 60.6% of patients treated with biologics achieving PASI75 after 1 year compared to 54.2% of patients receiving conventional systemic drugs (nonsignificant). On average, the drug survival in patients receiving a biologic therapy was significantly longer than those receiving conventional systemic treatments (30.5 vs. 19.2 months, p ≤ 0.001)., Conclusions: In the real-world setting of a prospective national therapy registry, the application of current therapeutic guidelines for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis resulted in a PASI reduction of approximately 70% within the first year of treatment, but current therapeutic targets of PASI75 and PASI90 were reached in only 58 and 36% of patients, respectively, at 1 year, highlighting a gap in efficacy between selective clinical trials and the real-world setting., (© 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Cold climate and unique genetic and environmental factors may influence the prevalence of skin diseases in Greenland. However, there is a lack of epidemiological studies on skin diseases in the adult Greenlandic population. To address this unmet need a cross-sectional study, run by dermatologists from Denmark, the UK, and Switzerland estimated the prevalence and clinical manifestations of skin diseases among adults in East Greenland in May 2022. All adults ≥18 years in the town of Tasiilaq were invited, and 295 individuals aged 18–78 years participated (22.5% of the overall adult population in Tasiilaq). Two-hundred and three participants (69%) had visible signs of current skin disease, and among these, 242 cases of dermatoses were identified. The most common skin diseases were hand eczema (22.4%), lichen simplex (9.5%), discoid eczema (7.1%), psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and acne vulgaris (5.8% each). Scabies was the most frequent infectious skin disease (4.4%). No cases of skin cancer were identified. Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis presented with disease that was of limited extent and different from the classical presentations. Skin diseases showed a high prevalence among adults in East Greenland, and some of them were severe. This indicates a noteworthy public health problem that warrants better access to dermatologist support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The purpose of this study is to compare the rate of COVID-19 vaccination among psoriasis patients internationally and to correlate it with their treatment regimens. (2) Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from January 2021 to October 2022 among adults in the United States (US), Chile, China, Switzerland, and Singapore using the Global Healthcare Study on Psoriasis survey. (3) Results: A total of 310 psoriasis patients in the US (98), Chile (32), China (80), Switzerland (39), and Singapore (61) were surveyed. Of these, 248 patients (80.0%) were vaccinated at least once for COVID-19 (Chile: 100%, Singapore: 100%, US: 93.9%, Switzerland: 69.2%, China: 45.0%). Compared with other countries, patients in China were 89% less likely to report at least one COVID-19 vaccination (1 − 0.11 = 0.89; OR 0.11; 95% CI: 0.03–0.48), and patients in Switzerland were 80% less likely (1 − 0.20 = 0.80; OR 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05–0.79). Compared with patients on biologics, patients on topicals were 10.9 (95% CI: 2.1–56.6) times more likely to report at least one COVID-19 vaccination, and patients on oral systemics were 7.2 times more likely (95% CI: 1.6–31.6). (4) Conclusions: Country of residence and treatment regimen are associated with different COVID-19 vaccination rates in psoriasis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite improved treatment options for plaque psoriasis within the last decades, some patients still have an inadequate response to treatment. Direct clinical evaluation between therapies used after biologic failure could facilitate physicians' choice of treatment. Methods: COBRA (NCT04533737) was a randomized (1:1), blinded (patient and assessor), 28-week, active-comparator trial conducted in Europe from December 2020 to December 2022. The objective was to compare the efficacy and safety of brodalumab versus guselkumab in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and inadequate response to ustekinumab. Patients received either brodalumab 210 mg or guselkumab 100 mg. The primary [having Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)-100 response at week 16] and key secondary (time to PASI-100 response) endpoints were tested in a fixed sequence. Results: Due to delays and enrollment challenges, recruitment was terminated with 113 patients enrolled of 240 planned. The proportion of patients having PASI-100 at week 16 for brodalumab was 53.4% compared with 35.9% for guselkumab [odds ratio (OR) 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95, 4.44; p = 0.069]. As this was not statistically significant, the hierarchical testing procedure was stopped. All other secondary PASI endpoints had nominal p-values below 0.05 in favor of brodalumab. In the time to PASI response analyses, brodalumab separated from guselkumab in estimated cumulative incidence of patients achieving a response from week 2 onward, suggesting fast onset of action with brodalumab. Quality of life measures improved in both treatment groups. The safety findings were consistent with the known safety profiles. Conclusions: Brodalumab showed a tendency toward better and earlier effect than guselkumab in patients who had failed ustekinumab. Thus, this trial provides important information in assisting physicians in their choice of therapy for patients who have failed their prior anti-interleukin (IL)-12/23 treatment. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04533737. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Since skin is highly accessible, clinical photography is a useful tool to visually substantiate the real-world effectiveness outcomes of biologic-treated adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (PsO). We report the effectiveness and patient-reported outcomes at Week 12 between anti-interleukin (IL)-17A biologics and other biologics as well as ixekizumab and guselkumab in patients with available clinical photography at baseline and Week 12.Patients and Methods: The Psoriasis Study of Health Outcomes (PSoHO) is an international, non-interventional, cohort study investigating the effectiveness of biologics in adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis at Week 12. Outcomes included the proportion of patients who achieved 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI90) and/or static Physician Global Assessment (sPGA) 0/1 (primary endpoint), PASI100, PASI90, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and Itch Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (secondary endpoints) at Week 12. Data are reported descriptively.Results: This analysis included 59 biologic-treated (23 anti-IL-17A; 36 other biologics) patients with available clinical photographs from the overall PSoHO study (n=1981). At baseline, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 45.7 (11.1) years, 71.2% were male, 52.5% were bio-experienced and the median (interquartile range) duration of disease was 10.5 (12.4) years. Mean (SD) PASI was 16.9 (9.3) and sPGA was 3.5 (0.8). At Week 12, 65.2%/47.2% of the anti-IL-17A/other biologics cohort achieved the primary outcome. Response rates for PASI90/100 were numerically higher with anti-IL-17A than with other biologics. Patients receiving anti-IL-17A had numerically better outcomes for DLQI 0/1 and Itch NRS than those receiving other biologics at Week 12. Clinical photographs confirmed skin improvements in ixekizumab- and guselkumab-treated patients.Conclusion: This subgroup analysis showed that anti-IL-17A biologics are effective at rapidly improving signs and symptoms of PsO and improving quality of life. Additionally, serial photography provided visual evidence of biologic treatment response over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis can involve the skin, joints, nails and cardiovascular system and result in a significant impairment in quality of life. Studies have shown a lower response rate to systemic anti-sporiatic therapies in smokers, and smoking is a trigger factor for psoriasis. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse the response to systemic therapies for psoriasis, with a focus on smoking. Prospectively collected data from patients with moderate to severe psoriasis included in the national psoriasis registries for Germany and Switzerland (Pso-Best and SDNTT) were analysed. Therapy response was defined as reaching a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) reduction of 75%, PASI ≤ 3 or Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) ≤ 1. Out of 5,346 patients included in these registries, 1,264 met the inclusion criteria for this study. In the smoking group, 715 (60.6%) reached therapy response at month 3, compared with 358 (63.7%) in the non-smoking group (p ≤ 0.269), 659 (74.1%) vs. 330 (77%) reached therapy response at month 6 (p ≤ 0.097), and 504 (76.6%) vs. 272 (79.0%) at month 12 (p ≤ 0.611). Therefore, these data do not show that smoking affects the response rate of anti-psoriatic therapy after 3, 6 and 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Several studies have suggested that an HLA-Cw6+ allele can predict an improved outcome of treatment in psoriasis patients. The aim of the study was to assess whether the published association between HLA-Cw6 allele carriers and response to ustekinumab has the potential to impact treatment decisions. Patients and methods: Differences in Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index 50, 75, and 90; Nail Psoriasis Severity Index; and Dermatology Life Quality Index at 16 weeks were evaluated between HLA-Cw6 allele carriers vs. non-carriers. Thirty patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis under treatment with ustekinumab were included in our study. Results: There was no difference between the two groups with respect to Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index 50, 75, and 90 or in terms of change in Nail Psoriasis Severity Index or Dermatology Life Quality Index. Conclusion: In our retrospectively analyzed cohort, we could not detect the previously reported better response in HLA-Cw6+ vs. HLA-Cw6-patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Randomized controlled trials have shown the efficacy of systemic treatments in moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Clinical outcomes in psoriasis patients under real-world conditions are less well understood.Objective: This study compared Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI) improvement in all psoriasis patients registered in the Swiss Dermatology Network for Targeted Therapies. We asked whether outcomes differed between 4 treatment strategies, namely biologic monotherapy versus conventional systemic monotherapy, versus combined biologic and conventional systemic drugs, and versus therapy adaptation (switching from one type to another).Methods: PASI and DLQI within 1 year after onset of systemic treatment, measured at 3, 6, and 12 months, were compared among the 4 groups using generalized linear mixed-effects models.Results: Between March 2011 and December 2014, 334 patients were included; 151 received conventional systemic therapeutics, 145 biologics, 13 combined treatment, and 25 had a therapy adaptation. With regard to the absolute PASI, neither the biologic cohort nor the combined treatment cohort significantly differed from the conventional systemic therapeutics cohort. The odds of reaching PASI90 was significantly increased with combined therapy compared to conventional systemic therapeutics (p = 0.043) and decreased with a higher body mass index (p = 0.041). At visits 3 and 4, the PASI was generally lower than at visit 2 (visit 3 vs. visit 2, p = 0.0019; visit 4 vs. visit 2, p < 0.001). After 12 months, patients with biologic treatment had a significantly lower DLQI than those with conventional systemic therapeutics (p = 0.001).Conclusion: This study suggests that after 1 year of treatment, biologics are superior in improving the subjective disease burden compared to conventional systemic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Swiss psoriasis registry SDNTT (Swiss Dermatology Network for Targeted Therapies) records the long-term safety and effectiveness of systemic treatment regimens for psoriasis.Patients and Methods: Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis are included in the SDNTT when treatment with a conventional systemic agent or biologic is initiated that was not previously used by the respective patient. Patients are followed over a 5-year period. Clinical data are obtained every 3-6 months using standardized case report forms. Here, baseline data and follow-up data for 1 year of patients included from October 2011 until December 2014 were analyzed.Results: Within 39 months, 323 patients from 7 tertiary dermatology centers in Switzerland were recruited in the SDNTT; 165 patients received biologics and 158 conventional systemic therapies. Patients treated with biologics had a significantly higher severity (PASI 11.3 vs. 9.2, BSA 15.6 vs.11.9, psoriatic arthritis 36.4 vs. 10.8%; p ≤ 0.005, p ≤ 0.013, p ≤ 0.001) and a longer duration of illness (19.2 vs. 14.4 years, p ≤ 0.003) compared to patients starting a conventional systemic treatment. PASI reduction was satisfying in both treatment groups, with 60.6% of patients treated with biologics achieving PASI75 after 1 year compared to 54.2% of patients receiving conventional systemic drugs (nonsignificant). On average, the drug survival in patients receiving a biologic therapy was significantly longer than those receiving conventional systemic treatments (30.5 vs. 19.2 months, p ≤ 0.001).Conclusions: In the real-world setting of a prospective national therapy registry, the application of current therapeutic guidelines for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis resulted in a PASI reduction of approximately 70% within the first year of treatment, but current therapeutic targets of PASI75 and PASI90 were reached in only 58 and 36% of patients, respectively, at 1 year, highlighting a gap in efficacy between selective clinical trials and the real-world setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]