Assessment of hydro-saline retention in bullous pemphigoid patients treated with super-potent topical corticosteroids.

INTRODUCTION: Super-potent topical corticosteroids (CS) are the mainstay of treatment for bullous pemphigoid. Since super-potent topical CS have systemic effects due to their transcutaneous absorption, we assessed whether super-potent CS were responsible for hydro-saline retention (HSR) in bullous pemphigoid patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2015 to 2017, patients with newly-diagnosed bullous pemphigoid treated using clobetasol propionate cream at a starting daily dose of 20 to 40 g were subsequently included in a prospective study. HSR was assessed by longitudinally measuring extracellular water (ECW) volume using bioimpedance analysis (BodyStat QuadScan 4000®) from Day 0 to Day 30 after the initiation of topical CS. Other parameters related to HSR such as weight, blood pressure, natriuresis and proteinuria, were also recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (14 men and 15 women) of mean age 81.8 ±â€¯9.3 years were included and analysed. The mean ECW volume decreased from Day 0 to Day 7 (18.1 ±â€¯4.2 vs 16.7 ±â€¯2.7, p = 0.0094) and was maintained from Day 7 to Day 30 (16.8 ±â€¯2.8 vs 17.0 ±â€¯3.4 L; p = 0.8040). Patient weight loss at Day 30 (69.9 ±â€¯13.6 vs 72.5 ±â€¯14.2 kg, p = 0.0085) was closely correlated with the decrease in ECW volume (r = 0.6740, p < 0.0001). No significant changes in natriuresis, 24-hour proteinuria or blood pressure were observed from Day 0 to Day 30. CONCLUSION: We found no evidence of HSR in bullous pemphigoid patients treated with super-potent topical CS. Conversely, ECW volume decreased from Day 0 to Day 30, which was correlated with patient weight loss.

Impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of psoriasis with systemic therapies in France: Results from the PSOBIOTEQ cohort.

BACKGROUND: The nature of the COVID-19 pandemic led to concerns among patients and physicians about the potential impact of immunosuppressive treatments for chronic diseases such as psoriasis on the risk of severe COVID-19. OBJECTIVES: To describe treatment modifications and determine the incidence of COVID-19 infection among psoriasis patients during the first wave of the pandemic, and identify the factors associated with these events. METHODS: Data from PSOBIOTEQ cohort relating to the first COVID-19 wave in France (March to June, 2020), as well as a patient-centred COVID-19 questionnaire, were used to evaluate the impact of lockdown on changes (discontinuations, delays or reductions) in systemic therapies, and to determine the incidence of COVID-19 cases among these patients. Logistic regression models were used to assess associated factors. RESULTS: Among the 1751 respondents (89.3%), 282 patients (16.9%) changed their systemic treatment for psoriasis, with 46.0% of these changes being initiated by the patients themselves. Patients were more likely to experience psoriasis flare-ups during the first wave if they changed their treatment during this period (58.7% vs 14.4%; P < 0.0001). Changes to systemic therapies were less frequent among patients with cardiovascular diseases (P < 0.001), and those aged ≥ 65 years (P = 0.02). Overall, 45 patients (2.9%) reported having COVID-19, and eight (17.8%) required hospitalization. Risk factors for COVID-19 infection were close contact with a positive case (P < 0.001) and living in a region with a high incidence of COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Factors associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 were avoiding seeing a physician (P = 0.002), systematically wearing a mask during outings (P = 0.011) and being a current smoker (P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Discontinuation of systemic psoriasis treatments during the first COVID-19 wave (16.9%) - mainly decided by patients themselves (46.0%) - was associated with a higher incidence of disease flares (58.7% vs 14.4%). This observation and factors associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 highlight the need to maintain and adapt patient-physician communication during health crises according to patient profiles, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary treatment discontinuations and ensuring that patients are informed about the risk of infection and the importance of complying with hygiene rules.

Treatment of pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus with efgartigimod, a neonatal Fc receptor inhibitor: a phase II multicentre, open-label feasibility trial.

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus are potentially life-threatening autoimmune disorders triggered by IgG autoantibodies against mucosal and epidermal desmogleins. There is an unmet need for fast-acting drugs that enable patients to achieve early sustained remission with reduced corticosteroid reliance. OBJECTIVES: To investigate efgartigimod, an engineered Fc fragment that inhibits the activity of the neonatal Fc receptor, thereby reducing serum IgG levels, for treating pemphigus. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with mild-to-moderate pemphigus vulgaris or foliaceus were enrolled in an open-label phase II adaptive trial. In sequential cohorts, efgartigimod was dosed at 10 or 25 mg kg-1 intravenously with various dosing frequencies, as monotherapy or as add-on therapy to low-dose oral prednisone. Safety endpoints comprised the primary outcome. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT03334058). RESULTS: Adverse events were mostly mild and were reported by 16 of 19 (84%) patients receiving efgartigimod 10 mg kg-1 and 13 of 15 (87%) patients receiving 25 mg kg-1 , with similar adverse event profiles between dose groups. A major decrease in serum total IgG and anti-desmoglein autoantibodies was observed and correlated with improved Pemphigus Disease Area Index scores. Efgartigimod, as monotherapy or combined with prednisone, demonstrated early disease control in 28 of 31 (90%) patients after a median of 17 days. Optimized, prolonged treatment with efgartigimod in combination with a median dose of prednisone 0·26 mg kg-1 per day (range 0·06-0·48) led to complete clinical remission in 14 of 22 (64%) patients within 2-41 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Efgartigimod was well tolerated and exhibited an early effect on disease activity and outcome parameters, providing support for further evaluation as a therapy for pemphigus.

Switches between biologics in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis: results from the French cohort PSOBIOTEQ.

BACKGROUND: Biologics are the cornerstone of treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and switches between biologics are frequently needed to maintain clinical improvement over time. OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of this study was to describe precisely switches between biologics and how their pattern changed over time with the recent availability of new biologic agents. METHODS: We included patients receiving a first biologic agent in the Psobioteq multicenter cohort of adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis receiving systemic treatment. We described switches between biologics with chronograms, Sankey and Sunburst diagrams, assessed cumulative incidence of first switch by competing risks survival analysis and reasons for switching. We assessed the factors associated with the type of switch (intra-class - i.e. within the same therapeutic class - vs. inter-class) in patients switching from a TNF-alpha inhibitor using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 2153 patients was included. The cumulative incidence of switches from first biologic was 34% at 3 years. Adalimumab and ustekinumab were the most prescribed biologic agents as first and second lines of treatment. The main reason for switching was loss of efficacy (72%), followed by adverse events (11%). Patients receiving a TNF-alpha inhibitor before 2016 mostly switched to ustekinumab, whereas those switching in 2016 or after mostly switched to an IL-17 inhibitor. Patients switching from a first-line TNF-alpha inhibitor before 2016 were more likely to switch to another TNF-alpha inhibitor compared with patients switching since 2018. Patients switching from etanercept were more likely to receive another TNF-alpha inhibitor rather than another therapeutic class of bDMARD compared with patients switching from adalimumab. CONCLUSION: This study described the switching patterns of biologic treatments and showed how they changed over time, due to the availability of the new biologic agents primarily IL-17 inhibitors.

Serum autoantibody reactivity in bullous pemphigoid is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and the use of antidiabetics and antipsychotics: a large, prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Bullous pemphigoid (BP), the by far most frequent autoimmune blistering skin disease (AIBD), is immunopathologically characterized by autoantibodies against the two hemidesmosomal proteins BP180 (collagen type XVII) and BP230 (BPAG1 or dystonin). Several comorbidities and potentially disease-inducing medication have been described in BP, yet a systematic analysis of these clinically relevant findings and autoantibody reactivities has not been performed. OBJECTIVE: To determine associations of autoantibody reactivities with comorbidities and concomitant medication. METHODS: In this prospective multicenter study, 499 patients diagnosed with BP in 16 European referral centers were included. The relation between anti-BP180 NC16A and anti-BP230 IgG ELISA values at the time of diagnosis as well as comorbidities and concomitant medication collected by a standardized form were analysed. RESULTS: An association between higher serum anti-BP180 reactivity and neuropsychiatric but not atopic and metabolic disorders was observed as well as with the use of insulin or antipsychotics but not with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors, inhibitors of platelet aggregation and L-thyroxine. The use of DPP4 inhibitors was associated with less anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 reactivity compared with BP patients without these drugs. This finding was even more pronounced when compared with diabetic BP patients without DPP4 inhibitors. Associations between anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 reactivities were also found in patients using insulin and antipsychotics, respectively, compared with patients without this medication, but not for the use of inhibitors of platelet aggregation, and L-thyroxine. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these data imply a relation between autoantibody reactivities at the time of diagnosis and both neuropsychiatric comorbidities as well as distinct concomitant medication suggesting a link between the pathological immune mechanisms and clinical conditions that precede the clinically overt AIBD.

International multicentre observational study to assess the efficacy and safety of a 0·5 mg kg-1 per day starting dose of oral corticosteroids to treat bullous pemphigoid.

BACKGROUND: European guidelines propose a 0·5 mg kg-1 per day dose of oral prednisone as initial treatment for bullous pemphigoid (BP). We assessed the safety and efficacy of this regimen depending on BP extent and general condition of the patients. METHODS: In a prospective international study, we consecutively included all patients diagnosed with BP. Patients received a 0·5 mg kg-1 per day dose of prednisone, which was then gradually tapered 15 days after disease control, with the aim of stopping prednisone or maintaining minimal treatment (0·1 mg kg-1 per day) within 6 months after the start of treatment. The two coprimary endpoints were control of disease activity at day 21 and 1-year overall survival. Disease severity was assessed according to the Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index (BPDAI) score. RESULTS: In total, 198 patients were included between 2015 and 2017. The final analysis comprised 190 patients with a mean age of 80·9 (SD 9·1) years. Control of disease activity was achieved at day 21 in 119 patients [62·6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 55·3-69.5]; 18 of 24 patients (75%, 95% CI 53·3-90·2), 75 of 110 patients (68·8%, 95% CI 59·2-77·3) and 26 of 56 patients (46.4%, 95% CI 33·0-60·3) had mild, moderate and severe BP, respectively (P = 0·0218). A total of 30 patients died during the study. The overall Kaplan-Meier 1-year survival was 82·6% (95% CI 76·3-87·4) corresponding to 90·9%, 83·0% and 80·0% rates in patients with mild, moderate and severe BP, respectively (P = 0·5). Thresholds of 49 points for BPDAI score and 70 points for Karnofsky score yielded maximal Youden index values with respect to disease control at day 21 and 1-year survival, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A 0·5 mg kg-1 per day dose of prednisone is a valuable therapeutic option in patients with mild or moderate BP whose general condition allows them to be autonomous.

Proof of concept for the clinical effects of oral rilzabrutinib, the first Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor for pemphigus vulgaris: the phase II BELIEVE study.

BACKGROUND: Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibition targets B-cell and other non-T-cell immune cells implicated in the pathophysiology of pemphigus, an autoimmune disease driven by anti-desmoglein autoantibodies. Rilzabrutinib is a new reversible, covalent BTK inhibitor demonstrating preclinical efficacy as monotherapy in canine pemphigus foliaceus. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral rilzabrutinib in patients with pemphigus vulgaris in a multicentre, proof-of-concept, phase II trial. METHODS: Patients with Pemphigus Disease Area Index severity scores 8-45 received 12 weeks of oral rilzabrutinib 400-600 mg twice daily and 12 weeks of follow-up. Patients initially received between 0 and ≤ 0·5 mg kg-1 prednisone-equivalent corticosteroid (CS; i.e. 'low dose'), tapered after control of disease activity (CDA; no new lesions, existing lesions healing). The primary endpoints were CDA within 4 weeks on zero-to-low-dose CS and safety. RESULTS: In total, 27 patients with pemphigus vulgaris were included: nine newly diagnosed (33%) and 18 relapsing (67%); 11 had moderate disease (41%) and 16 moderate to severe (59%). The primary endpoint, CDA, was achieved in 14 patients (52%, 95% confidence interval 32-71): 11 using low-dose CS and three using no CS. Over 12 weeks of treatment, mean CS doses reduced from 20·0 to 11·8 mg per day for newly diagnosed patients and from 10·3 to 7·8 mg per day for relapsing patients. Six patients (22%) achieved complete response by week 24, including four (15%) by week 12. Treatment-related adverse events were mostly mild (grade 1 or 2); one patient experienced grade 3 cellulitis. CONCLUSIONS: Rilzabrutinib alone, or with much lower CS doses than usual, was safe, with rapid clinical activity in pemphigus vulgaris. These data suggest that BTK inhibition may be a promising treatment strategy and support further investigation of rilzabrutinib for the treatment of pemphigus.

International validation of the Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index severity score and calculation of cut-off values for defining mild, moderate and severe types of bullous pemphigoid.

BACKGROUND: The Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index (BPDAI) score has been proposed to provide an objective measure of bullous pemphigoid (BP) activity. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to calculate BPDAI cut-off values defining mild, moderate and severe BP. We also aimed to assess the interrater reliability and correlation with the number of daily new blisters, and anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 antibodies. METHODS: Severity scores were recorded by two blinded investigators. Anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 antibodies were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cut-off values defining mild, moderate and severe subgroups were calculated based on the 25th and 75th percentiles of the BPDAI score. RESULTS: In total, 285 patients with BP were enrolled from 50 dermatology departments in Europe. Median BPDAI activity was 37·5 points (range 0-164). Cut-off values corresponding to the first and third quartiles of the BPDAI score were 20 and 57, respectively; thus, these values were used to define mild (≤ 19), moderate (≥ 20 and ≤ 56) and severe (≥ 57) BP. The median BPDAI score for patients with ≤ 10 daily new blisters was 26 [interquartile range (IQR) 17-45], and for patients with > 10 daily new blisters the median score was 55 (IQR 39-82). The BPDAI intraclass correlation coefficient measured at baseline was 0·97 and remained higher than 0·90 up to month 6. The improvement in the BPDAI score was correlated with the absolute decrease in anti-BP180 ELISA value (Spearman's rank r = 0·34, P < 0·004), but not with anti-BP230 antibodies (r = 0·17, P = 0·15). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests cut-off values of 20-57 for BPDAI to distinguish mild, moderate and severe BP, and confirms that it is a robust tool to assess BP severity precisely.

Epidemiological changes in cutaneous lymphomas: an analysis of 8593 patients from the French Cutaneous Lymphoma Registry.

BACKGROUND: Primary cutaneous lymphomas (PCLs) are a heterogeneous group of T-cell (CTCL) and B-cell (CBCL) malignancies. Little is known about their epidemiology at initial presentation in Europe and about potential changes over time. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the frequency of PCLs in the French Cutaneous Lymphoma Registry (GFELC) and to describe the demography of patients. METHODS: Patients with a centrally validated diagnosis of primary PCL, diagnosed between 2005 and 2019, were included. RESULTS: The calculated incidence was unprecedently high at 1·06 per 100 000 person-years. The number of included patients increased yearly. Most PCL subtypes were more frequent in male patients, diagnosed at a median age of 60 years. The relative frequency of rare CTCL remained stable, the proportion of classical mycosis fungoides (MF) decreased, and the frequency of its variants (e.g. folliculotropic MF) increased. Similar patterns were observed for CBCL; for example, the proportion of marginal-zone CBCL increased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in PCL frequencies may be explained by the emergence of new diagnostic criteria and better description of the entities in the most recent PCL classification. Moreover, we propose that an algorithm should be developed to confirm the diagnosis of PCL by central validation of the cases.

Supportive care in the acute phase of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: an international, multidisciplinary Delphi-based consensus.

BACKGROUND: Supportive care is the cornerstone of management of adult and paediatric Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). However, consensus on the modalities of supportive care is lacking. OBJECTIVES: Our aim in this international multicentric Delphi exercise was to establish a multidisciplinary expert consensus to standardize recommendations regarding supportive care in the acute phase of SJS/TEN. METHODS: Participants were sent a survey via the online tool SurveyMonkey, consisting of 103 statements organized into 11 topics: multidisciplinary team composition, suspect drug management, infection prevention, fluid resuscitation and prevention of hypothermia, nutritional support, pain and psychological distress management, management of acute respiratory failure, local skincare, ophthalmological management, management of other mucosa, and additional measures. Participants evaluated the level of appropriateness of each statement on a scale of 1 (extremely inappropriate) to 9 (extremely appropriate). The results were analysed according to the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method. RESULTS: Forty-five participants from 13 countries (on three continents) participated. After the first round, a consensus was obtained for 82.5% of the 103 initially proposed statements. After the second round, a final consensus was obtained for 102 statements. CONCLUSIONS: We have reached an international Delphi-based consensus on best supportive care practice for SJS/TEN. Our expert consensus should help guide physicians in treating patients with SJS/TEN and thereby improve short-term prognosis and the risk of sequelae.

Out-of-pocket expenditures in France to manage psoriasis in adult patients: results from an observational, cross-sectional, non-comparative, multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: In 2018 in France, overall mean health-related out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures were 214.00€/year/patient. AIM: To evaluate OOP expenditures for psoriasis patients in France. METHODOLOGY: Observational, cross-sectional, non-comparative, multicentre study in 3000 patients with clinically confirmed psoriasis who responded to a specific digital questionnaire collecting demographic and socio-economic characteristics, assessing the 3 domains (severity, psychosocial impact and past history and interventions) of the patient's Simplified Psoriasis Index (sa-SPI) and expenditures to manage psoriasis, including OOP. Multivariate linear regression was conducted to search for factors associated with higher OOP. RESULTS: In total, 2681 patients completed the questionnaire and, of those, 2562 provided clinically validated data. Overall, 60% were women; the mean age was 49.4 ± 14.8 years. 30% of the patients declared that they suffered from psoriatic arthritis. The final mean sa-SPI core was 10.86 ± 9.70. Of these 2562 patients, 243 (9.5%) had severe, 442 (17.3%) moderate and 1877 (73.3%) mild psoriasis. In addition, 932 (36.4%) patients reported facial involvement, 724 (28.25%) genital impairment and 1124 (43.8%) lesions on the limbs. Mean OOP expenditures to manage psoriasis per patient were 531.00€, 439.74€ ± 939.85€ for patients with mild, 791.06€ ± 1367.67€ with moderate and 1077.64€ ± 1680.14€ for patients with severe psoriasis. For patients with psoriasis in the genital area, the median amount of expenditures (251.17€; CI95% [138.35;363.99]) was significantly higher than that for the face (183.85€; CI95% [78.76;288.94]) or limbs (199.96€; CI95% [93.77;306.15); (P < 0.001). More than 90% of the patients had OOP expenditures for over-the-counter products (97.5%) and alternative care (92.0%), especially for emollients and/or hydrating products. CONCLUSION: In France, in 2019, OOP expenditures to manage psoriasis were on average more than twice as high as the overall mean health-related OOP expenditures estimated by the French Health Agency in 2018. These results should lead health authorities to review certain standards of healthcare reimbursement.

Secukinumab efficacy in reducing the severity and the psychosocial impact of moderate-to-severe psoriasis as assessed by the Simplified Psoriasis Index: results from the IPSI-PSO study.

BACKGROUND: The utility of the Simplified Psoriasis Index (SPI), a recently developed multidomain tool for assessing psoriasis, was investigated in a study assessing response to secukinumab. METHODS: In an open-label, multicentre study involving 17 French centres, patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis received secukinumab 300 mg subcutaneously once weekly from baseline to W4, then every 4 weeks until W48. Dermatologist-scored SPI psoriasis severity (proSPI-s) was compared with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Patient self-assessed severity (saSPI-s) and psychosocial impact (SPI-p) were compared with PASI and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), respectively. RESULTS: We included 120 patients (69.2% male; mean age 45.9 years; mean duration of psoriasis 21.6 years). Mean baseline scores were as follows: proSPI-s 24.9, saSPI-s 23.5, PASI 23.1, SPI-p 8.2 and DLQI 13.6. Severity scores achieved by 16 weeks (proSPI-s 2.3, saSPI-s 2.2 and PASI 2.2) were maintained to W52. Reductions in mean psychosocial impact scores were maintained to W52 (SPI-p and DLQI, respectively, 2.1 and 1.5 at W16; 1.5 and 1.9 at W52). CONCLUSIONS: Decrease of PASI scores in response to secukinumab was closely correlated with proSPI-s, supporting the latter's suitability for assessing response to therapy. Although the correlation between PASI and saSPI-s was slightly weaker, patients were able to complete a valid assessment of their psoriasis independently, and thus potentially remotely. With the added benefit of psychosocial impact assessment (SPI-p), SPI provides a valid tool enabling patients to assess their own psoriasis, remotely if necessary.

European guidelines (S3) on diagnosis and management of mucous membrane pemphigoid, initiated by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology - Part I.

This guideline on mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) has been elaborated by the Task Force for Autoimmune Blistering Diseases of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) with a contribution of physicians from all relevant disciplines and patient organizations. It is a S3 consensus-based guideline encompassing a systematic review of the literature until June 2019 in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. This first part covers methodology, the clinical definition of MMP, epidemiology, MMP subtypes, immunopathological characteristics, disease assessment and outcome scores. MMP describes a group of autoimmune skin and mucous membrane blistering diseases, characterized by a chronic course and by predominant involvement of the mucous membranes, such as the oral, ocular, nasal, nasopharyngeal, anogenital, laryngeal and oesophageal mucosa. MMP patients may present with mono- or multisite involvement. Patients' autoantibodies have been shown to be predominantly directed against BP180 (also called BPAG2, type XVII collagen), BP230, laminin 332 and type VII collagen, components of junctional adhesion complexes promoting epithelial stromal attachment in stratified epithelia. Various disease assessment scores are available, including the Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid Disease Area Index (MMPDAI), the Autoimmune Bullous Skin disorder Intensity Score (ABSIS), the 'Cicatrising Conjunctivitis Assessment Tool' and the Oral Disease Severity Score (ODSS). Patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs), including DLQI, ABQOL and TABQOL, can be used for assessment of quality of life to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and monitor disease course.

European Guidelines (S3) on diagnosis and management of mucous membrane pemphigoid, initiated by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology - Part II.

This guideline has been initiated by the task force Autoimmune Blistering Diseases of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, including physicians from all relevant disciplines and patient organizations. It is a S3 consensus-based guideline that systematically reviewed the literature on mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases until June 2019, with no limitations on language. While the first part of this guideline addressed methodology, as well as epidemiology, terminology, aetiology, clinical presentation and outcome measures in MMP, the second part presents the diagnostics and management of MMP. MMP should be suspected in cases with predominant mucosal lesions. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy to detect tissue-bound IgG, IgA and/or complement C3, combined with serological testing for circulating autoantibodies are recommended. In most patients, serum autoantibodies are present only in low levels and in variable proportions, depending on the clinical sites involved. Circulating autoantibodies are determined by indirect IF assays using tissue substrates, or ELISA using different recombinant forms of the target antigens or immunoblotting using different substrates. The major target antigen in MMP is type XVII collagen (BP180), although in 10-25% of patients laminin 332 is recognized. In 25-30% of MMP patients with anti-laminin 332 reactivity, malignancies have been associated. As first-line treatment of mild/moderate MMP, dapsone, methotrexate or tetracyclines and/or topical corticosteroids are recommended. For severe MMP, dapsone and oral or intravenous cyclophosphamide and/or oral corticosteroids are recommended as first-line regimens. Additional recommendations are given, tailored to treatment of single-site MMP such as oral, ocular, laryngeal, oesophageal and genital MMP, as well as the diagnosis of ocular MMP. Treatment recommendations are limited by the complete lack of high-quality randomized controlled trials.

Prevalence of comorbidities in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis in the French population.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (Pso) are highly prevalent chronic inflammatory skin diseases. They share similarities regarding severity and impact on quality of life but display differences regarding risk factors, comorbidities, and pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to assess the prevalence of AD and Pso among the French population, along with associated comorbidities, and to compare these data with those of the age- and gender-adjusted French population with neither AD nor Pso. METHODS: The survey was conducted by a polling institute between September 1 and November 30, 2016, with proportional quota sampling being applied to render the study population representative of the French population. In all, 20 012 individuals were selected from among 900,000 internet users aged≥15years. RESULTS: Overall, 20,012 adults (48.8% men; 51.2% women) completed a digital questionnaire. The prevalence of AD was 4.65% [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.36%-4.94%] and that of Pso was 4.42% [95% CI: 4.14%-4.71%]. More AD patients presented≥1 comorbidity compared to subjects without AD (57.04% vs. 49.2%, P<0.0001) and more Pso patients presented≥1 comorbidity compared to subjects without Pso (60.68% vs. 49.05%, P<0.0001). After adjustment for gender and age, hypertension and dyslipidemia, a greater prevalence of osteoarticular, respiratory and psychiatric diseases was noted in both AD and Pso patients, whereas increased prevalence of obesity was seen only in Pso patients. The prevalence of components of metabolic syndrome was higher among Pso than AD patients. CONCLUSION: Further studies are required to consolidate these findings, to better characterize the entire spectrum of AD and Pso comorbidities, and to better identify determinants and risk factors, along with targeted therapies.

Comparison of real costs in the French healthcare system in newly diagnosed patients with pemphigus for first-line treatment with rituximab vs. standard corticosteroid regimen: data from a national multicentre trial.

BACKGROUND: Rituximab has been demonstrated to be highly effective as a first-line treatment for moderate-to-severe pemphigus; however, its high cost can be considered a limitation of this treatment. OBJECTIVES: To compare direct costs of two regimens, rituximab + short-term prednisone vs. prednisone alone, tested in the Ritux3 trial. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive 2 g of rituximab and two 500-mg maintenance infusions at month 12 and month 18 along with low doses of prednisone for 3-6 months, or high doses of prednisone alone tapered over 12-18 months. We estimated the direct costs related to (i) protocol (treatments, consultations, hospitalizations); (ii) unfavourable disease course (relapse); and (iii) adverse events in both treatment groups during a 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: Annual individual cost discrepancies related to drugs decreased from +€3597 to -€1589 from the first to the third year, which corresponded to an initially higher cost in the rituximab group, counterbalanced during follow-up by costs related to treatment of patients with persistent disease activity/relapses in the standard corticosteroid (CS) group. Individual costs relating to treatment of adverse events were higher in the standard CS group (€4352) than in the rituximab group (€2468). Overall, mean individual total cost over the 3 years of follow-up was €13 997 in the standard CS arm vs. €14 818 in the rituximab arm, corresponding to a difference of €821 more per patient (+6%). CONCLUSIONS: First-line treatment of pemphigus with rituximab results in a slightly greater cost compared with a standard CS regimen. What's already known about this topic Rituximab is the most effective treatment for moderate-to-severe pemphigus. Rituximab cost might be considered as a limitation of this treatment. What does this study add? After 3 years of follow-up, mean individual total cost for a patient with first-line treatment with rituximab was €14 818 vs. €13 997 with standard corticosteroids (CS), resulting in a slightly higher cost of €821 (+6%). The initially greater cost of rituximab was counterbalanced by costs related to management of flares/relapses in patients treated with a standard CS regimen.

Rituximab is an effective treatment in patients with pemphigus vulgaris and demonstrates a steroid-sparing effect.

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids (CS) with or without adjuvant immunosuppressant agents are standard treatment for pemphigus vulgaris (PV). The efficacy of adjuvant therapies in minimizing steroid-related adverse events (AEs) is unproven. OBJECTIVES: To utilize data collected in a French investigator-initiated, phase III, open-label, randomized controlled trial to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of rituximab and seek approval for its use in PV. METHODS: This was an independently conducted post hoc analysis of the moderate-to-severe PV subset enrolled in the Ritux 3 study. Patients were randomized to rituximab plus 0·5 or 1·0 mg kg-1 per day prednisone tapered over 3 or 6 months, or 1·0 or 1·5 mg kg-1 per day prednisone alone tapered over 12 or 18 months, respectively (according to disease severity). The primary end point was complete remission at month 24 without CS (CRoff) for ≥ 2 months, and 24-month efficacy and safety results were also reported. RESULTS: At month 24, 34 of 38 patients (90%) on rituximab plus prednisone achieved CRoff ≥ 2 months vs. 10 of 36 patients (28%) on prednisone alone. Median total cumulative prednisone dose was 5800 mg in the rituximab plus prednisone arm vs. 20 520 mg for prednisone alone. Eight of 36 patients (22%) who received prednisone alone withdrew from treatment owing to AEs; one rituximab-plus-prednisone patient withdrew due to pregnancy. Overall, 24 of 36 patients (67%) on prednisone alone experienced a grade 3/4 CS-related AE vs. 13 of 38 patients (34%) on rituximab plus prednisone. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with moderate-to-severe PV, rituximab plus short-term prednisone was more effective than prednisone alone. Patients treated with rituximab had less CS exposure and were less likely to experience severe or life-threatening CS-related AEs. What's already known about this topic? Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is the most common type of pemphigus. Corticosteroids, a standard first-line treatment for PV, have significant side-effects. Although their effects are unproven, adjuvant corticosteroid-sparing agents are routinely used to minimize steroid exposure and corticosteroid-related side-effects. There is evidence that the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab is effective in the treatment of patients with severe recalcitrant pemphigus and in patients with newly diagnosed pemphigus. What does this study add? This study provides a more detailed analysis of patients with PV enrolled in an investigator-initiated trial. Rituximab plus prednisone had a steroid-sparing effect and more patients achieved complete remission off prednisone. Fewer patients experienced grade 3 or grade 4 steroid-related adverse events than those on prednisone alone. This collaboration between academia and industry, utilizing independent post hoc analyses, led to regulatory authority approvals of rituximab in moderate-to-severe PV.

Users of biologics in clinical practice: would they be eligible for phase III clinical studies? Cohort Study in the French Psoriasis Registry PSOBIOTEQ.

BACKGROUND: Numerous inclusion and exclusion criteria are involved in phase III moderate to severe psoriasis trials investigating the safety and efficacy of biologics. This questions the generalization of results. METHODS: In this cohort study, we applied inclusion/exclusion criteria for phase III trials from original protocols (adalimumab - REVEAL, ustekinumab - PHOENIX, brodalumab - AMAGINE, secukinumab FIXTURE) to all patients enrolled in the PsoBioTeq prospective registry who received a biological agent for the first time between July 2012 and November 2017. We then compared the efficacy, drug survival and occurrence of adverse events between patients who satisfied/did not satisfy the eligibility criteria for these phase III trials. RESULTS: A total of 1267 patients were enrolled, of whom 993 (78.4%) were not eligible for at least one RCT (randomized controlled trial) and 251 (19.1%) did not meet the PASI/PGA severity requirements. Apart from disease severity, the most frequent criteria resulting in exclusion were as follows: non-plaque psoriasis (12.6%), significant cardiac disease (8.4%), significant liver disease (7.3%), elevated liver enzymes (4.9-9.6%) and personal history of diabetes (9.2%). There was no difference in drug survival between the two groups. The incidence ratio of adverse events was significantly lower in eligible versus non-eligible patients [0.78 (95% CI 0.62-0.97) (P = 0.03)]. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients treated with biologics in the PsoBioTeq real-life registry would not have been eligible for phase III moderate to severe psoriasis trials. Patients not eligible for psoriasis phase III clinical trials have a higher incidence of adverse events.

Updated S2K guidelines on the management of pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus initiated by the european academy of dermatology and venereology (EADV).

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus encompasses a group of life-threatening autoimmune bullous diseases characterized by blisters and erosions of the mucous membranes and skin. Before the era of immunosuppressive treatment, pemphigus was almost always fatal. Due to its rarity, only few randomized controlled therapeutic trials are available. Recently, rituximab has been approved as first-line treatment for moderate and severe pemphigus vulgaris in Europe and the United States. OBJECTIVES: The Autoimmune blistering diseases Task Force of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) has initiated a throughout update of the guideline for the management of patients with pemphigus. RESULTS: The guidelines for the management of pemphigus were updated, and the degree of consent among all task force members was included. The final version of the guideline was consented by the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) and several patient organizations.

Automatic depletion with Spectra Optia allows a safe 16% reduction of red blood cell pack consumption in exchanged sickle cell anemia patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic red blood cell exchanges (RBCXs) are frequently used to prevent complications in patients with sickle cell anemia, but the scarcity of matched red blood cell packs (RBCPs) is a serious concern. The main goal of this study was to compare the number of RBCPs used during RBCXs between the Spectra Optia (SO) device (with the automatic depletion step) and the former Cobe Spectra (CSP) device. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The performances and safety of 300 SO sessions using the automatic depletion step (SO/DE) in 50 patients with sickle cell anemia under a chronic transfusion program over a 1-year period were prospectively analyzed. The numbers of RBCPs saved using this protocol compared to the SO device without depletion and to the CSP device were determined. RESULTS: The SO/DE protocol appeared to be safe, as only 5% and 17% of the sessions were characterized by a significant decrease in blood pressure and increase in heart rate (grade 2 adverse events), respectively. Postapheresis hematocrit and fraction of cells remaining reached expected values. The SO/DE protocol required 16% fewer RBCPs compared to SO without depletion, allowing a mean saving of 12 RBCPs per patient and per year and 13% fewer compared to CSP device. Interestingly, the saving was more important for patients with high total blood volume and/or high preapheresis hematocrit. CONCLUSION: The SO/DE protocol is an efficient, safe and cost-effective procedure for patients with sickle cell anemia under a chronic transfusion program.