Evaluation of the Impact of Night Shift Work on Disease Severity in Psoriatic Patients: A Case-Control Study with Clinical, Hormonal, and Immunological Evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Night shift work disrupts circadian rhythms and has been associated with immune system alterations and various health conditions. However, there is limited data regarding its impact on psoriasis. The aim of our study was to compare psoriasis severity and the hormonal and immunological profile in patients with a night shift work to those with a daytime occupation. METHODS: In this case-control study, we enrolled psoriatic patients aged >18 years engaged in night shift work and a control group of psoriatic patients with a daytime occupation. A further categorization was performed by the duration of night shift work: < or ≥7 days a month and < or ≥8 years. Disease severity was evaluated by PASI, BSA, and DLQI, and blood samples were taken to measure various hormonal and immunological markers. Univariable and multivariable analysis were performed to assess differences between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 40 night shift workers were included, along with 36 patients in the control group. Patients who worked night shifts at least 7 days a month had significantly higher PASI scores (11.2 ± 6.6 vs. 8.5 ± 6.6; p = 0.04) and higher IL-8 serum (115.33 ± 463.65 pg/mL vs. 19.98 ± 29.78 pg/mL; p = 0.006) compared to patients who did not. Night shifts workers for at least 8 years had higher BMI (28.65 ± 4.56 vs. 25.32 ± 5.50, p = 0.010), and females had higher testosterone levels (0.46 ± 0.53 ng/mL vs. 0.23 ± 0.13 ng/mL; p = 0.055). CONCLUSION: Night shift might increase psoriasis severity and have an impact on chronic inflammation, obesity, and hormonal imbalances.

Histological features of immune cell infiltrate in lesional skin correlate with therapeutic response to dupilumab.

In the last decade, dupilumab, a monoclonal human antibody inhibiting IL-4/IL-13 signaling, has revolutionized the therapeutic management of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), permitting a long-term control of its signs and symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify histologic predictors of dupilumab efficacy after 16 weeks of treatment in a cohort of forty adult patients with moderate to severe AD who had undergone a skin biopsy for diagnostic purposes prior to treatment initiation. We found that EASI 75 and EASI 90 responses at week 16 were significantly associated with perivascular localization (OR=17.6, p=0.038) and lichenoid distribution (OR=31.8, p=0.025) of the immune infiltrate. Moreover, for each unit increase in the number (cells/m2) of CD4+ cells, the likelihood to achieve EASI75 response decreased by 1% (OR=0.99, p=0.037). In conclusion our study suggested a few pre-treatments qualitative and quantitative immunohistochemical features as promising markers predicting dupilumab response in AD patients.

The dynamics of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) during treatment reflects tumour response in advanced melanoma patients.

Despite the introduction of targeted (BRAFi/MEKi) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has significantly reduced the recurrence rate and improved the overall survival (OS) of patients with Stage III and IV melanoma, only a percentage will benefit of durable disease control. The aim of this study was to examine whether the levels of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in plasma of advanced melanoma patients undergoing BRAFi/MEKi or ICIs vary according to the patients' survival outcomes (i.e. progression-free survival (PFS) and OS) and disease progression. Plasma samples of Stage III-IV melanoma patients were collected at baseline (treatment initiation) and thereafter every 3 months. Circulating BRAFV600E/K and NRASQ61R/K mutations were analysed through droplet digital PCR (ddPCR, Bio-Rad) in a total of 177 plasma samples from 48 melanoma patients (19 Stage III, 29 Stage IV). Baseline ctDNA concentration was significantly associated with OS (HR = 1.003, 95% CI = 1.000-1.006, p = 0.043) and PFS (HR = 1.004, 95% CI = 1.000-1.007, p = 0.029) independent of clinical-prognostic confounders. For each unit increase in the ∆ctDNA (concentration difference between the last follow-up and baseline) there was a 24% increased risk of disease progression, irrespective of treatment type and stage at diagnosis (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.03-1.49, p = 0.020, AUC = 0.93). Patients with reduction of ctDNA level from baseline to the last follow-up had longer OS (HR = 0.14; 95% CI = 0.05-0.44, p = 0.001) and PFS (HR = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.03-0.27, p < 0.0001) compared to patients with increased ctDNA, including adjustment for confounding factors. Our findings suggest that variation of ctDNA over time during melanoma treatment reflects the clinical outcome and tumour response to therapy and might be helpful in clinical monitoring.

Therapeutic Impact and Management of Persistent Head and Neck Atopic Dermatitis in Dupilumab-Treated Patients.

BACKGROUND: Localization of atopic dermatitis (AD) in exposed areas such as the hands, head, and neck has been considered as a negative factor impacting on dupilumab response, although a comparison of exposed versus unexposed areas is not currently available. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical response to dupilumab depending on the presence or persistency of AD skin manifestations in specific body areas. METHODS: The study retrospectively collected clinical and demographic data of adult patients affected by moderate to severe AD. Based on the anatomical sites involved, 5 subcohorts of patients were identified. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients were included in the study. Disease amelioration was detected during the study period, although baseline head/neck and hand localization was associated with a significantly lower likelihood of achieving an Eczema Area Severity Index (EASI) ≤1. In addition, patients with head/neck persistency showed a significantly lower response when compared to patients without persistency of head/neck AD in terms of both mean EASI and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) reduction. CONCLUSION: AD localization in exposed areas at the baseline and AD persistency at the head/neck may have a negative impact on certain treatment response parameters to dupilumab therapy.

Vitiligo-like lesions in patients with advanced breast cancer treated with cycline-dependent kinases 4 and 6 inhibitors.

PURPOSE: Introduction of cyclin-dependent inhibitors was a milestone in therapeutics for patients with estrogen receptor+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Despite the wide use of such agents and remarkable improvement of survival rates, drug-related adverse events are not yet fully characterized. We describe vitiligo-like lesions as a new adverse event occurring in patients with advanced breast cancer treated with cyclin-dependent inhibitors. METHODS: We performed an international retrospective study including patients with advanced breast cancer who developed vitiligo-like lesions during treatment with cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 inhibitors, in the period January 2018-December 2019. Patients > 18 years, both males and females, were recruited at six Dermatology Departments located in Italy (3), France (1) and Greece (2). We evaluated epidemiological and clinical characteristics, impact on quality of life and outcome of vitiligo-like lesions in patients treated with cyclin-dependent 4 and 6 inhibitors. The percentage of skin involved by vitiligo-like lesions was assessed using the Body Surface Area (BSA) score. Changes in patients' quality of life were investigated through the evaluation of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire. RESULTS: Sixteen women (median age: 62.5 years; range 40-79 years) treated with cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 inhibitors for advanced breast cancer presented with vitiligo-like lesions during follow-up visits. Cutaneous lesions consisted of white, irregular macules and patches located mainly on sun-exposed areas in 11/16 patients or diffuse to the entire body surface in 5/16. Cutaneous lesions clearly impaired the quality of life of patients tested (DLQI ≥ 10). CONCLUSIONS: We present for the first time, to our knowledge, a case series of vitiligo-like lesions developing in patients with advanced breast cancer treated with cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 inhibitors. We showed that such lesions further impair the patients' quality of life and their treatment is challenging.

Management of patients with atopic dermatitis undergoing systemic therapy during COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: Data from the DA-COVID-19 registry.

BACKGROUND: Few and small studies have described the management of immunomodulant/immunosuppressive therapies or phototherapy in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: A national registry, named DA-COVID-19 and involving 35 Italian dermatology units, was established in order to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the management of adult AD patients treated with systemic immunomodulant/immunosuppressive medications or phototherapy. Demographic and clinical data were obtained at different timepoints by teledermatology during COVID-19 pandemic, when regular visits were not allowed due to sanitary restrictions. Disease severity was assessed by both physician- and patient-reported assessment scores evaluating itch intensity, sleep disturbances, and AD severity. RESULTS: A total of 1831 patients were included, with 1580/1831 (86.3%) continuing therapy during pandemic. Most patients were treated with dupilumab (86.1%, 1576/1831) that was interrupted in only 9.9% (156/1576) of cases, while systemic immunosuppressive compounds were more frequently withdrawn. Treatment interruption was due to decision of the patient, general practitioner, or dermatologist in 39.9% (114/286), 5.6% (16/286), and 30.1% (86/286) of cases, respectively. Fear of increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection (24.8%, 71/286) was one of the main causes of interruption. Sixteen patients (0.9%) resulted positive to SARS-CoV-2 infection; 3 of them (0.2%) were hospitalized but no cases of COVID-related death occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Most AD patients continued systemic treatments during COVID pandemic and lockdown period, without high impact on disease control, particularly dupilumab-treated patients.

Spliceogenic analysis of BRCA1 c.439T>C (rs794727800) variant by High Resolution Melting Analysis.

Correct classification of genomic variants causing potentially aberrant splicing is of utmost importance for patient management, especially in clinically actionable genes such as BRCA1/2. In this article, we report molecular evaluation of the BRCA1 c.439T>C (rs794727800, p.Leu147=) variant based on RNA of a patient suffering with high-grade serous ovarian cancer syndrome, to add new evidence to the only in silico data available for this variant. High Resolution Melting Analysis (HRMA) was used for the first time to investigate the spliceogenicity of a BRCA1 variant. HRMA with Sanger sequencing provided evidence that the c.439C allele does not cause aberrant splicing of the BRCA1 exon 7. In addition, HRMA with Sanger highlighted a different expression of the naturally occurring BRCA1 r.442_444del (c.442_444delCAG, p.Gln148del, at DNA level) isoform between blood and tumor, in this patient. HRMA is an alternative molecular approach to analyze spliceogenic properties of the c.439T>C variant and potentially for all those BRCA1/2 variants affecting splicing sites. These new evidences allowed to classify definitively the c.439T>C variant as benign. Furthermore, the different BRCA1 r.442_444del expression opens the discussion to consider a wider classification criteria for the splicing variants, including molecular evaluation at tissue level, which is an aspect currently scarcely considered in BRCA1/2 variant classification recommendations.

Melanoma types by in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy correlated with protein and molecular genetic alterations: A pilot study.

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is one of the most prevalent skin cancers, which lacks both a prognostic marker and a specific and lasting treatment, due to the complexity of the disease and heterogeneity of patients. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) in vivo analysis is a versatile approach offering immediate morphological information, enabling the identification of four primary cutaneous RCM CM types. Whether RCM CM types are associated with a specific protein and molecular genetic profiles at the tissue level remains unclear. The current pilot study was designed to identify potential correlations between RCM CM types and specific biological characteristics, combining immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular analyses. Eighty primary CMs evaluated at patient bedside with RCM (type 1 [19, 24%], type 2 [12, 15%], type 3 [7, 9%] and type 4 [42, 52%]) were retrospectively evaluated by IHC stains (CD271, CD20, CD31, cyclin D1), fluorescence in situ hybridization FISH for MYC gain and CDKN2A loss and molecular analysis for somatic mutations (BRAF, NRAS and KIT). RCM CM types correlated with markers of stemness property, density of intra-tumoral lymphocytic B infiltrate and cyclin D1 expression, while no significant association was found with blood vessel density nor molecular findings. RCM CM types show a different marker profile expression, suggestive of a progression and an increase in aggressiveness, according to RCM morphologies.

Understanding the Molecular Genetics of Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human cancer and represents a growing public health care problem. Several tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes have been implicated in BCC pathogenesis, including the key components of the Hedgehog pathway, PTCH1 and SMO, the TP53 tumor suppressor, and members of the RAS proto-oncogene family. Aberrant activation of the Hedgehog pathway represents the molecular driver in basal cell carcinoma pathogenesis, with the majority of BCCs carrying somatic point mutations, mainly ultraviolet (UV)-induced, and/or copy-loss of heterozygosis in the PTCH1 gene. Recent advances in sequencing technology allowed genome-scale approaches to mutation discovery, identifying new genes and pathways potentially involved in BCC carcinogenesis. Mutational and functional analysis suggested PTPN14 and LATS1, both effectors of the Hippo-YAP pathway, and MYCN as new BCC-associated genes. In addition, emerging reports identified frequent non-coding mutations within the regulatory promoter sequences of the TERT and DPH3-OXNAD1 genes. Thus, it is clear that a more complex genetic network of cancer-associated genes than previously hypothesized is involved in BCC carcinogenesis, with a potential impact on the development of new molecular targeted therapies. This article reviews established knowledge and new hypotheses regarding the molecular genetics of BCC pathogenesis.

Facial Papulopustular Eruption during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Patients Treated with EGFR Inhibitors.

Papulopustular rash (PPR) is the most frequent cutaneous adverse event during treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRis). Although often mild in severity, it can impair patients' quality of life and may also be a reason for discontinuing or changing the dose of the antineoplastic treatment. During COVID-19 pandemics, the use of surgical masks drastically increased and it had an impact on the face skin microenvironment, favoring the worsening of dermatological pathologies. We reported the relapse of PPR in patients treated with EGFR inhibitors who consistently wore face masks (>6 hours/day). All the patients developed the PPR within 6 months of starting mask use. Compared to the PPR occurred previously, after mask use, the skin eruption was more severe and affected mainly those regions of the face which came into contact with the mask. Patients received topical or systemic treatment, obtaining complete response in 65.7% of the cases. The establishment of an early treatment for the PPR allows continuing the oncologic treatment, without any suspension which could result in a decreased oncologic outcome. In conclusion, when using these devices, it is recommended to use special precautions, particularly in oncologic patients, by using a daily prophylactic skincare and replacing masks regularly with regular and frequent breaks.

LC-OCT for early diagnosis and characterization of dermatologic adverse events to oncologic drugs and correlation to histopathology.

BACKGROUND: Targeted and immune therapies have recently been associated with the occurrence of multiple cutaneous toxicities, often challenging to differentiate by clinical examination alone without histology. Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is a non-invasive and innovative imaging technique that has been shown to be almost as effective as histology in diagnosing several skin conditions. Our study aimed to assess the effectiveness of LC-OCT in predicting the clinical evolution of early maculopapular eruptions related to antineoplastic targeted therapy and immunotherapy. METHODS: In the period between May 2023 and December 2023, consecutive patients with clinical cutaneous maculopapular reactions caused by oncologic targeted therapy or immunotherapy were enrolled at the dermatologic outpatient clinic of the Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome. Patients underwent clinical dermatological examination, video-dermoscopy, LC-OCT, and incisional skin biopsy of a target cutaneous lesion. To investigate the evolutionary pattern of maculopapular lesions (psoriasic eruption, lichenoid eruption, eczematous eruption, bullous eruption), LC-OCT and histopathological images have been compared based on specific characteristics (hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, spongiosis; papillomatosis; lichenoid inflammatory infiltrate; presence of intraepidermal/subepidermal cleavage plan with formation of a bulla). RESULTS: Eighteen patients were included in this study (11 males, 7 females, median age 64.5). LC-OCT demonstrated an overall concordance with histology of 77.8%, with a Cohen's Kappa of 0.69 (P < 0.0001). Sensitivity exceeded 70%, and specificity was ≥88.2%. The Area Under the Curve (AUC) ranged from 0.9 to 1 for psoriasis and lichenoid eruption and from 0.7 to 0.9 for eczematous and bullous eruption. CONCLUSIONS: LC-OCT appears to be a promising tool for the early differential diagnosis of adverse skin reactions related to targeted therapy and immunotherapy, offering the potential to avoid skin biopsies in fragile cancer patients.

Residual disease is the main, but not the only factor impacting satisfaction in psoriatic patients undergoing biological therapies.

BACKGROUND: Despite advancements in psoriasis treatment, a gap remains in aligning patient satisfaction with clinical outcomes. Our study aimed to evaluate which clinical and psychological factors may impact treatment satisfaction in psoriatic patients undergoing long-term biological therapies. METHODS: We performed an observational, cross-sectional, single-center study involving adult patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with biologics for at least 12 months. We collected sociodemographic characteristics and data on the course of the psoriasis. We also assessed the absolute (residual) Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), the site of the residual disease, and the severity of pruritus through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Satisfaction was evaluated using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQMv.II). The Type D Personality Scale (DS14 questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 assessed the psychological profile. RESULTS: Overall, 146 patients were included, and 82.1% were globally satisfied (global satisfaction TSQM score >75). Linear regression analysis showed a negative correlation between global satisfaction scoring and residual PASI. The multivariable analysis found a higher VAS-pruritus score (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.01-1.44; P = 0.043) and not reaching a residual PASI < 2 (OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.09-0.94, P = 0.039) as the strongest predictors of global unsatisfied patients (TSQM < 75%). Other factors unrelated to residual disease, such as gender, class of biologic agent, and type D personality, have also been found to impact patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Our study's findings underscore the complexity of patient satisfaction in psoriasis management and highlight the multifactorial nature of treatment success beyond traditional clinical measures.

Confocal Assessment of Pigmented-Mucosal Lesions: A Monocentric, Retrospective Evaluation of Lip and Genital Area.

INTRODUCTION: Pigmentation of lip and/or genitalia is mainly due to the development of benign melanotic macules, with a less occurrence of melanocytic and other non-melanocytic lesions. Mucosal melanoma has worse prognosis compared with cutaneous counterpart, hence identification of atypical features for an early diagnosis is crucial. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to report further data of confocal features characterizing pigmented mucosal lesions of genital area and of the lips and test the diagnostic role of the reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM)lip score. METHODS: Clinical, dermoscopic and RCM images of histologically proven pigmented lesions, involving the genital area (vulva or glans penis) and lip, were retrospectively reviewed. RCM images were evaluated for malignant criteria, and statistical analysis was conducted for categorical variables. RESULTS: Seventy pigmented lesions were included in the study and divided into two groups based on the body area location: lip (17) and genital area (53). Architectural disarray (P = 0.002), dendritic (P = 0.031) and roundish cells in epidermis (P < 0.0001), interpapillary dendritic cells (P = 0.039) and junctional atypical cells (P = 0.002) were associated to genital melanoma. Melanoma involving the lip was characterized by roundish cells in epidermis, a criterion found in one labial benign lesion, only (P = 0.005). Main limitations of the study are the inclusion of low melanomas and the presence of epidermal dendritic cells in melanosis and melanoma, as a confusing factor in imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Dermatologists should consider confocal microscopy as an adjunctive tool to dermoscopy in the differential diagnosis of pigmented mucosal lesions, especially in presence of clinical and dermoscopic findings suspicious for malignancy.

Long-Term Persistence Rate of Secukinumab in Psoriatic Patients: A Six-Year Multicenter, Real-World Experience, Retrospective Study.

Background: Psoriatic disease, a chronic immune-mediated systemic inflammatory condition, significantly impairs patients' quality of life. The advent of highly targeted biological therapies has transformed treatment strategies, emphasizing the importance of selecting the most effective and cost-efficient option. Secukinumab, an IL-17A inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy and safety in treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO). However, long-term real-world data on its effectiveness and persistence rate are limited. Methods: This retrospective study, conducted across eight Italian dermatology centers, aimed to evaluate the 6-year persistence rate and effectiveness of secukinumab in patients with PsO. Additionally, the study investigated the onset of psoriatic arthritis during treatment. Results: Overall, 166 adult patients were analyzed. Their median age was 53.9 years. The mean BMI was 26.5. Of the 166 patients, 64 were bio-experienced while 102 were bio-naïve. A progressive reduction in PsO severity measured by PASI scores over 6 years of treatment was revealed: the PASI score decreased from a baseline value of 18.1 (±9.1) to 0.7 (±1.6) after 6 years of follow-up. Adverse events, including mucocutaneous fungal infections and cardiovascular disturbances, were reported in 19.9% of patients. The persistence rate was 86.8% at 24 months, decreasing to 66.4% at 72 months. Psoriatic arthritis onset during treatment was observed in 15 (9.0%) of patients. Conclusions: This study highlights the sustained effectiveness and favorable safety profile of secukinumab over 6 years, providing valuable real-world evidence. Understanding the long-term persistence rate and predictors of discontinuation could help clinicians optimize treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes in PsO management. We found that the absence of scalp PsO, no involvement of the genital area and normal weight were the best factors of persistence in secukinumab treatment in the long term.

Identification of clinical predictors for dupilumab dose spacing in adults with atopic dermatitis: a real-world study.

BACKGROUND: Dupilumab is a monoclonal antibody against the IL-4/IL-13 receptor-subunit approved for the treatment of moderate-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Some attempts to increase dose interval have been described in both trial and real-world settings. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify predictive clinical and demographic factors affecting patient selection for dose spacing or treatment withdrawal due to satisfactory response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with dupilumab for at least 16 weeks. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyze demographic and clinical variables. Logistic regression models were used to identify predictor variables. RESULTS: A total of 818 adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD was included in the study and 12% (97/818) of them performed dose spacing to 3-4 weeks or treatment withdrawal (8%, 67/818). The presence of non-cutaneous atopic manifestations (OR = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.06-2.38, p = 0.024), prurigo nodularis phenotype (OR = 4.5, 95%CI = 1.87-10.9, p = 0.001) and the age at treatment initiation (OR = 1.82, 95%CI = 1.12-2.94, p = 0.015) were confirmed as the strongest predictors of dose spacing or treatment withdrawal while maintaining dupilumab effectiveness. CONCLUSION: Our findings contribute to define the patient profile that could maintain the therapeutic response after dose spacing or treatment withdrawal.

Predicting factors identified patients with dupilumab who could benefit of dose spacing or treatment withdrawal.

Low grade of satisfaction related to the use of current systemic therapies among pustular psoriasis patients: a therapeutic unmet need to be fulfilled.

Introduction: Pustular psoriasis is considered a separate entity from plaque psoriasis and can be categorized as generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP), acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau, or palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP). Current guidelines mostly include treatment options that have not been specifically developed for the treatment of pustular psoriasis. The majority of them does not have indication for the treatment of pustular psoriasis. Their effectiveness and safeness have been described in small cohort-based studies or case series with a low level of evidence. Previous studies evaluated treatment response through physician-based assessment but none reported patient satisfaction to treatment, quality of life and patient perception of disease severity during systemic therapies, particularly with biologics commonly used in plaque psoriasis. This study aimed to investigate patient satisfaction to treatment and patients' quality of life during treatment, correlating patient-reported outcomes with residual disease severity. Methods: A cross-sectional, cohort-based, single center study included patients affected by pustular psoriasis undergoing treatment with systemic agents. Demographic, clinical characteristics were collected. Treatment satisfaction as well as disease severity were assessed through dedicated assessment scores. Results: A total of 31 patients affected by GPP or PPP were included. Despite biologic treatment, 80.6% of patients continued to experience mild-to-severe disease activity, with discrepancies between patient and physician assessments. Patients reported a substantial impairment in their quality of life, with notable limitations in physical activity and emotional distress. Mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety disorders, were common. Treatment satisfaction varied, with moderate scores for effectiveness and convenience. Only a small proportion of patients (41.9%) reported complete or high overall treatment satisfaction. GPP and PPP subcohorts exhibited similar quality of life and treatment satisfaction levels. Discussion: This study highlights the suboptimal control of PP despite biologic therapies, resulting in a significant impact on patients' quality of life and treatment satisfaction. The findings highlight the need for specific therapies and standardized guidelines for managing PP. New targeted therapies, such as spesolimab, hold promise for optimizing treatment satisfaction and improving patients' quality of life in this challenging condition. Future research should focus on refining treatment strategies to address the unmet needs of PP patients comprehensively.

Clinical Features and Response to Treatment in Elderly Subjects Affected by Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Cohort Study.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic-relapsing inflammatory skin disease. It usually appears in the second and third decades, but a smaller proportion of patients develop late-onset HS. Geriatric HS, defined as the persistence or the development of HS after the age of 65 years, has been poorly explored. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features, treatment management and response to therapies of HS elderly subjects (≥65 years old). We designed a multicentric observational study, gathering data from seven Italian university hospitals. Demographic and clinical data of HS patients aged over 65 years were collected at baseline, week 12 and week 24. Overall, 57 elderly subjects suffering from HS were enrolled. At baseline, disease severity was predominantly moderate-to-severe, with 45.6% of patients classified as Hurley III. The gluteal phenotype was the most frequently observed; it also appeared to affect patients' quality of life more than other phenotypes. Gluteal involvement was detected in about half (49.1%) of cases and associated with severe stages of the disease. In terms of therapeutic response, Hurley III patients showed the persistency of higher values of mean IHS4, DLQI, itch- and pain-NRS scores compared to Hurley I/II. In conclusion, disease severity in this subpopulation appears high and treatment is often challenging.