Real-World clinical, psychosocial and financial burden of atopic dermatitis: results from the Spanish cohort of the MEASURE-AD trial. / Carga clínica, psicosocial y económica de la dermatitis atópica en vida real: resultados de la cohorte española del estudio MEASURE-AD.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most prevalent skin diseases, but there are numerous knowledge gaps surrounding the impact this disease has on quality of life (QoL), mental health, and out-of-pocket expenses involved in the management of AD. The available scientific evidence on the multidimensional burden of AD is usually based on studies with measures reported by patients themselves. METHODS: In this context, the MEASURE-AD trial was developed as a cross-sectional, multicenter, multinational trial using patient- and physician-reported measures to characterize the multidimensional burden of AD in adults with moderate-to-severe AD. RESULTS: This paper presents the results of the Spanish cohort. We found that Spanish adults with moderate-to-severe AD and high EASI score (21.1-72) had a significantly increased disease burden, high severity of symptoms such as itch and sleep disturbances, impaired mental health and QoL, higher use of health care resources, and more out-of-pocket expenses than patients with low EASI scores (0-7 or 7.1-21). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides information to better understand disease burden, and identify aspects to be improved in the management of AD.

Effectiveness and safety of brodalumab in the treatment of plaque, scalp and palmoplantar psoriasis: A multicentre retrospective study in a Spanish population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The data in clinical practice regarding the effectiveness and safety of brodalumab in psoriasis are scarce, especially at scalp and palmoplantar locations. The main objective was the percentage of patients achieving absolute PASI ≤3/ ≤1/ =0 for plaque psoriasis and the percentage of patients achieving an IGA 0-1/IGA 0 for the special locations at Week 52 of treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational retrospective multicentre study in 28 Spanish Hospitals that included adult patients with plaque psoriasis treated with brodalumab, from September 2018 until March 2021. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients were included. The mean baseline PASI was 10.97 (±6.28) with a mean basal scalp (n = 58) and palmoplantar (n = 40) IGA of 2.10 (±0.97) and 2.15 (±1.26), respectively. At Week 52, 93.98%/75.90%/68.67% of patients reached an absolute PASI ≤3/ ≤1/ =0 in plaque psoriasis (n = 83), with a percentage of patients achieving scalp (n = 27) and palmoplantar (n = 19) IGA 0-1/IGA 0 of 96.3%/88.9% and 100%/88.9%, respectively. Fifteen per cent of patients reported any adverse events with candidiasis being the most reported (6%), but only 6% of the adverse events required the withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: Brodalumab demonstrated high PASI and IGA responses and was well tolerated in clinical practice in plaque, scalp and palmoplantar psoriasis.

Improving the Management and Follow-up of Atopic Dermatitis: A Delphi Process Report of Consensus Between Hospital Dermatologists and Pharmacists. / Líneas de mejora asistencial entre dermatólogos y farmacéuticos hospitalarios para el manejo y seguimiento de la dermatitis atópica: consenso Delphi.

Managing atopic dermatitis, one of the most common dermatologic conditions, is often challenging. To establish consensus on recommendations for responding to various situations that arise when treating atopic dermatitis, a group of hospital pharmacists and dermatologists used the Delphi process. A scientific committee developed a Delphi survey with 2 blocks of questions to explore the group's views on 1) evaluating response to treatment in the patient with atopic dermatitis and 2) cooperation between the dermatology department and the hospital pharmacy service. The experts achieved an overall rate of consensus of 86% during the process. Conclusions were that dermatologists and hospital pharmacists must maintain good communication and coordinate their interventions to optimize the management of atopic dermatitis and patients' responses to treatment.

[Sexually Transmitted Infections During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain]. / Infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) durante el estado de alarma por la pandemia de COVID-19 en España.

OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We collected demographic, chronological, and clinical data for all patients seen for a possible STI at Hospital La Paz, Centro Sanitario Sandoval, and Centro de Diagnóstico Médico in Madrid and Hospital Costa del Sol in Malaga between March 14, 2020 and June 30, 2020. RESULTS: We identified 674 STI diagnoses. The median age of the patients was 33 years. Most cases were observed among people aged 30 to 40 years and among men who have sex with men. The most common diagnoses were proctitis (36.5%), syphilis (16%), nongonococcal (13.3%) and gonococcal (11.3%) urethritis, genital herpes (8.8%), vulvovaginitis/cervicitis (8.3%), and genital warts (4.2%). A microbiologically confirmed diagnosis was on record for 77% of cases. The main microorganisms identified were Chlamydia trachomatis (35.7%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (31.4%) and Treponema pallidum (17.2%). The number of STI diagnoses increased after the easing of lockdown restrictions, which resulted in greater freedom of movement and more consultations. On comparing the 2019 and 2020 STI registries from Centro Sanitario Sandoval and Hospital La Paz for the period March to June, we observed reductions (of up to 81%) in all STI diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Physical distancing and movement restrictions appear to have resulted in a reduction in the incidence of STIs, although these measures did not completely eliminate sexual risk behaviors.

Sexually Transmitted Infections During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnoses during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We collected demographic, chronological, and clinical data for all patients seen for a possible STI at Hospital La Paz, Centro Sanitario Sandaval, and Centro de Diagnóstico Médico in Madrid and Hospital Costa del Sol in Malaga between March 14, 2020 and June 30, 2020. RESULTS: We identified 674 STI diagnoses. The median age of the patients was 33 years. Most cases were observed among people aged 30 to 40 years and among men who have sex with men. The most common diagnoses were proctitis (36.5%), syphilis (16%), nongonococcal (13.3%) and gonococcal (11.3%) urethritis, genital herpes (8.8%), vulvovaginitis/cervicitis (8.3%), and genital warts (4.2%). A microbiologically confirmed diagnosis was on record for 77% of cases. The main microorganisms identified wereChlamydia trachomatis (35.7%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (31.4%), and Treponema pallidum (17.2%). The number of STI diagnoses increased after the easing of lockdown restrictions, which resulted in greater freedom of movement and more consultations. On comparing the 2019 and 2020 STI registries from Centro Sanitario Sandoval and Hospital La Paz for the period March to June, we observed reductions (of up to 81%) in all STI diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Physical distancing and movement restrictions appear to have resulted in a reduction in the incidence of STIs, although these measures did not completely eliminate sexual risk behaviors.

OBJETIVO: Describir los cambios en el comportamiento de las ITS durante la situación de alerta sanitaria por la pandemia SARS-CoV-2. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se recogieron datos demográficos, cronológicos y clínicos de todos los pacientes que solicitaron atención médica por ITS en los hospitales La Paz y Costa del Sol, y los Centros Sandoval y de Diagnóstico Médico entre el 14/03/2020 y el 30/06/2020. RESULTADOS: Documentamos 674 casos de ITS. La mediana de edad fue de 33 años. El mayor porcentaje de casos se dio en el rango de 30-40 años y en hombres que tenían sexo con hombres. Los diagnósticos más frecuentes fueron: proctitis (36,5%), sífilis (16%), uretritis no gonocócica (13,3%) y gonocócica (11,3%), herpes genital (8,8%), vulvovaginitis/cervicitis (8,3%) y condilomas (4,2%).En 77% de los casos hubo confirmación microbiológica, siendo los microorganismos más frecuentes Chlamydia trachomatis (35,7%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (31,4%) y Treponema pallidum (17,2%).Se constató un incremento del número de casos de ITS tras el desconfinamiento, explicable por las mayores libertades y el aumento de consultas. Comparando los registros de ITS del Centro Sandoval y el Hospital La Paz en los cuatrimestres de marzo a junio de 2019 frente a 2020, se observó una disminución en 2020 de todos los diagnósticos, de hasta un 81% menos que en 2019. CONCLUSIONES: Las medidas de distanciamiento y limitación de movilidad aparentemente generaron una disminución de la incidencia de ITS, pero sin llegar a una inhibición completa de las conductas sexuales de riesgo.

Efficacy and safety of wet wrap therapy for patients with atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Wet wrap therapy (WWT) consists of topical steroids administered under a layer of wet cotton bandages or garments. Several trials with WWT have reported promising results in atopic dermatitis (AD). However, no systematic review and meta-analysis on its efficacy and safety has been published. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on WWT in AD to assess its efficacy and safety. We included randomized controlled trials among patients of all ages with a diagnosis of AD based on predefined criteria or made by a dermatologist. Electronic searches were performed from 1970 to 30 March 2016 in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry. Selection of studies and data extraction were performed independently by two researchers, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Six trials comparing WWT with topical steroids in children or adults with AD were included. Sample sizes ranged from 19 to 51 patients. Results on clinical severity and quality of life were reported incompletely and proved heterogeneous across studies. A nonsignificant tendency to increased risk of mild skin infections was observed in those treated with WWT (pooled relative risk 6·35, 95% confidence interval 0·83-48·55). The overall grade of quality of evidence for the efficacy and safety outcomes was low. In conclusion, the evidence that WWT is more effective than conventional treatment with topical steroids in AD is of low quality. Further clinical trials should establish the efficacy of WWT in AD.

Relapsing bullous amyloidosis of the oral mucosa and acquired cutis laxa in a patient with multiple myeloma: a rare triple association.

It is well known that primary systemic amyloidosis [light chain (AL) amyloidosis] is associated with hidden dyscrasia or multiple myeloma. Acquired cutis laxa (cutis laxa acquisita; CLA) has also been described in patients with plasma cell dyscrasias, including multiple myeloma. We report a case in which haemorrhagic oral bullae were the first sign of an undiagnosed primary systemic amyloidosis related to multiple myeloma IgG-λ and previously diagnosed CLA. There is only one report in literature of this rare triple association; however, in that case the patient did not have oral mucosal involvement or bullous amyloidosis.

Consensus-Based Acne Classification System and Treatment Algorithm for Spain. / Consenso español para establecer una clasificación y un algoritmo de tratamiento del acné.

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease whose psychosocial effects can greatly impair quality of life. Various scales are used to classify the severity of acne, and several treatment algorithms are currently applied: no consensus on a common scale or treatment guidelines has been reached. A group of Spanish experts therefore met to identify a scale the majority could accept as the most appropriate for classifying severity and treating accordingly. The group chose the following classifications: comedonal acne, mild or moderate papulopustular acne, severe papulopustular acne, moderate nodular acne, and nodular-cystic acne (or acne tending to leave scars). Consensus was reached on first- and second-choice treatments for each type and on maintenance treatment. The experts also issued specific recommendations on antibiotic use (starting with mild or moderate papulopustular acne), always in combination with retinoids and/or benzoyl peroxide. The use of isotretinoin (starting at severe papulopustular or moderate nodular acne) was also covered.

Two cases of overlap severe cutaneous adverse reactions to benznidazole treatment for asymptomatic Chagas disease in a nonendemic country.

Chagas disease is a parasitosis endemic to South America. It is normally treated with benznidazole as first choice, which has been associated with numerous cutaneous reactions. However, very few benznidazole-associated severe cutaneous adverse reactions have been reported to date. The rise of Chagas disease in nonendemic countries represents a growing public health challenge. We report two patients who met the criteria for drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome and Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis according to the RegiSCAR scoring systems. They were thus deemed overlapping cases, with a lymphocyte transformation test positive for benznidazole. Both required intensive care unit admission and both survived. Considering the rising application of this drug for trypanosomiasis in immigrant populations, clinicians should be aware of this newly reported, potentially life-threatening risk.

Kaposi sarcoma secondary to endogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone-dependent Cushing syndrome.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative tumour that develops as a result of an infection by human herpesvirus 8, which is considered a necessary cause but not sufficient. Other factors - genetic, immunological and environmental - might play a role in the development of the disease. We report a case of KS secondary to endogenous Cushing syndrome (ECS) due to a pituitary adenoma, an association that has been reported only once. We also conducted a search through the Medline and PubMed databases for cases involving KS and ECS, finding only three additional cases that shared common clinical and prognostic features with ours. ECS might favour the development of KS due to immunosuppression. Dermatologists and other clinicians should be aware of this association, as it might be an underdiagnosed condition. It also has an important impact on the management of KS, and based on this review it relies on a good prognosis when ECS is well controlled.

[Incorporation of patient-reported outcomes into pharmacy and dermatology departments, in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients, as a tool to improve the healthcare quality and health outcomes]. / Incorporación de resultados informados por pacientes con psoriasis y dermatitis atópica en las consultas de atención farmacéutica y dermatología: herramienta que mejora la calidad asistencial y resultados en salud.

INTRODUCTION: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) provide subjective information about their disease, treatment, and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To introduce a new system of work coordinated between pharmacists and dermatologists, based on the collection and analysis of PROs to assess its clinical impact as well as patients satisfaction. METHOD: A prospective single-centre observational study was conducted under clinical conditions and included adult patients diagnosed with psoriasis (PS) and atopic dermatitis (AD) between April-2021 and February-2022. Pharmacists and dermatologists agreed on this systematic work. A REDCap® database was designed to facilitate data collection and the subsequent analysis. RESULTS: A total of 288 and 41 patients with PS and AD, respectively, were included. Those who started treatment showed significant improvement with a decrease in PROs and clinical parameters (p < 0.001). The pharmacist made 168 and 7 recommendations to dermatologists for PS and AD patients, respectively, of which 66.07% and 57.1% were accepted. The most common recommendations were «consult with rheumatologist¼ (20.83%), «extend drug regimen¼ (19.64%) and «consider change in treatment¼ (11.90%). Adverse events were reported in 55 and 17 patients with PS and AD, respectively. Of 103 patients, 75% were «very satisfied¼ and 20% «satisfied¼ with the system. CONCLUSIONS: This new working system helps to evaluate the short and long-term effectiveness of treatments and also to identify adverse events, alarm symptoms and co-morbidities in order to optimize therapies. Collaboration between pharmacists and dermatologists reduces decision-making time and patients appreciate better clinical care leading to higher patient satisfaction.

Cutaneous adverse events associated with heparin.

Heparin use is associated with various cutaneous reactions, with the most common being immune-mediated skin lesions and bleeding complications. In this review, we compile the dermatological side-effects of heparin reported in the literature, and provide a clear approach to their adequate management.