Guselkumab Treatment Outcomes and Persistence in a Nationwide Real-world Cohort of Patients with Plaque Psoriasis.

Guselkumab treatment outcomes and persistence were assessed in a real-world cohort of Finnish patients with difficult-to-treat plaque psoriasis over a median follow-up of 1 year. Data on 181 patients who initiated guselkumab at the 15 study centres were collected retrospectively from the patient charts. Prior exposure to biologic therapies was common, with 56% and 35% having used at least 1 and 2 biologics, respectively. Median guselkumab treatment duration was 11 months with 21 patients (12%) discontinuing treatment during follow-up. Of 85 patients with a follow-up duration of at least 1 year, 73 (86%) were still on guselkumab at 1 year. Significant improvements during follow-up were seen in the absolute Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores with 32 patients (80%) having absolute PASI ≤ 2 after a 9-14-month treatment. Guselkumab treatment was effective and treatment persistence was high in the nationwide Finnish real-life setting.

[What have biological drugs changed in inflammatory rheumatic, skin and bowel diseases?]. / Mitä biologiset lääkkeet ovat muuttaneet tulehduksellisten reuma-, iho- ja suolistosairauksien hoidossa?

Biological drugs are the most rapidly growing group of medicinal agents. In addition to hormone and vaccine products, the significance of drugs produced using genetic engineering has increased in numerous indications, especially in oncology. Furthermore, they have significantly contributed to the treatment of inflammatory musculoskeletal as well as cutaneous and intestinal diseases. Their use is limited by parenteral administration, immunogenicity, uncertainty about possible severe adverse effects and especially the high price of the drugs. The cessation of patent protection of the original brand pharmaceuticals, and marketing of biosimilar drugs are expected to lower the prices of the original biological, as well.

Implementing best practice in psoriasis: a Nordic expert group consensus.

In the absence of Nordic-wide guidelines on the best practice management of psoriasis, this paper aims to provide Nordic recommendations for treatment goals, evaluation of quality of life impact and assessment/management of co-morbidities. This Delphi approach consisted of telephone interviews, local Nordic face-to-face meetings, and a Nordic-wide meeting, in which questions on treatment goals, quality of life impact and assessment/management of co-morbidities were posed to 17 dermatologists with psoriasis-treatment experience to gain consensus (≥ 90% agreement). The dermatologists agreed on the individualisation of treatment goals using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and Dermatology Life Quality Index, which should be measured at the same frequency. Training of healthcare professionals on the use of these tools and psychological assessments were considered important, along with the referral of psoriasis patients with cardio-metabolic risk factors to their general practitioner. In order to achieve the best practice management of psoriasis, Nordic dermatologists should be trained and adhere to these recommendations in conjunction with available treatment guidelines.

Current patch test results with the European baseline series and extensions to it from the 'European Surveillance System on Contact Allergy' network, 2007-2008.

BACKGROUND: The pattern of contact sensitization to the supposedly most important allergens assembled in the baseline series differs between countries, presumably at least partly because of exposure differences. Objectives. To describe the prevalence of contact sensitization to allergens tested in consecutive patients in the years 2007 and 2008, and to discuss possible differences. METHODS: Data from the 39 departments in 11 European countries comprising the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergy network (www.essca-dc.org) in this period have been pooled and analysed according to common standards. RESULTS: Patch test results with the European baseline series, and country-specific or department-specific additions to it, obtained in 25 181 patients, showed marked international variation. Metals and fragrances are still the most frequent allergens across Europe. Some allergens tested nationally may be useful future additions to the European baseline series, for example methylisothiazolinone, whereas a few long-term components of the European baseline series, namely primin and clioquinol, no longer warrant routine testing. CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis points to 'excess' prevalences of specific contact sensitization in some countries, although interpretation must be cautious if only few, and possibly specialized, centres are representing one country. A comparison as presented may help to target in-depth research into possible causes of 'excess' exposure, and/or consideration of methodological issues, including modifications to the baseline series.

Contact sensitization to methylisothiazolinone in Finland--a multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobials constitute the second most common cause of contact allergy to cosmetics. Methylisothiazolinone (MI), previously always used together with methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), has recently been approved in the EU for use on its own in cosmetics and also various industrial products. MCI has been classified as an extreme-strong and MI as a strong-moderate sensitizer. OBJECTIVES: To study the frequency of positive patch test reactions to MI, and its relevance and relation to MCI/MI sensitivity, in Finland. METHODS: Over a period of 3 years (2006-2008), MI 0.1% (1000 ppm) and 0.03% (300 ppm) were patch tested in 10,821 patients at eight Finnish dermatological clinics. During 2008, patients with positive reactions to MI were asked to take part in a repeated open application test (ROAT). RESULTS: Of the patients tested, 1.4% and 0.6% showed positive patch test reactions to 0.1% and 0.03% MI, respectively. Sixty-six per cent of those who were MI-positive were also positive to 100 ppm MCI/MI. Thirty-three agreed to undergo the use test, and 10 of these gave positive results (30%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that MI used alone also potentially induces contact allergy. Careful monitoring is needed to determine whether or not this antimicrobial is safe to use in cosmetics.

Sensitization to thiourea derivatives among Finnish patients with suspected contact dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Thiourea derivatives in rubber products may induce contact sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis. Sensitization is most often from neoprene rubber, but the multitude of possible sensitizing products has remained poorly characterized. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to collect information on the occurrence of thiourea-related contact allergy and to show novel sources of sensitization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A mixture of dibutyl-, diethyl-, and diphenylthiourea was included in patch test baseline series in five Finnish dermatology clinics during 2002-2007. In addition, an extended series of rubber chemicals was tested in patients with suspected rubber allergy. Sources of sensitization to thioureas were analysed in sensitized patients. RESULTS: Thiourea mix yielded positive patch test reactions in 59 of 15,100 patients (0.39%); 33/59 patients were also tested with individual rubber chemicals. Diethylthiourea was positive in 24/33, diphenylthiourea in 5, and dibutylthiourea in 1 patient. The most common sources of sensitization included various neoprene-containing orthopaedic braces, sports equipment, and foot wear. CONCLUSIONS: The sources of sensitization to thiourea chemicals were detected in most cases. These sources comprise a heterogenous group of products extending from orthopaedic materials to sports equipment.

The European baseline series in 10 European Countries, 2005/2006--results of the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA).

BACKGROUND: Continual surveillance based on patch test results has proved useful for the identification of contact allergy. OBJECTIVES: To provide a current view on the spectrum of contact allergy to important sensitizers across Europe. PATIENTS/METHODS: Clinical and patch test data of 19 793 patients patch tested in 2005/2006 in the 31 participating departments from 10 European countries (the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies' (ESSCA) www.essca-dc.org) were descriptively analysed, aggregated to four European regions. RESULTS: Nickel sulfate remains the most common allergen with standardized prevalences ranging from 19.7% (central Europe) to 24.4% (southern Europe). While a number of allergens shows limited variation across the four regions, such as Myroxylon pereirae (5.3-6.8%), cobalt chloride (6.2-8.8%) or thiuram mix (1.7-2.4%), the differences observed with other allergens may hint on underlying differences in exposures, for example: dichromate 2.4% in the UK (west) versus 4.5-5.9% in the remaining EU regions, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone 4.1% in the South versus 2.1-2.7% in the remaining regions. CONCLUSIONS: Notwithstanding residual methodological variation (affecting at least some 'difficult' allergens) tackled by ongoing efforts for standardization, a comparative analysis as presented provides (i) a broad overview on contact allergy frequencies and (ii) interesting starting points for further, in-depth investigation.

Myoglobin, creatine kinase MB isoforms and creatine kinase MB mass in early diagnosis of myocardial infarction in patients with acute chest pain.

OBJECTIVES: Measurements of myoglobin and creatine kinase (CK)-MB isoforms have been suggested to be sensitive tests for the early diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI). We have investigated the utility of myoglobin, creatine kinase (CK)-MB isoforms and creatine kinase MB mass (CK-MBm) in early diagnosis of MI using cardiac troponin T (cTnT) positivity as a reference. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study population comprised 440 patients who had had chest pain for less than 12 h. Patients were divided into cTnT negative (cTnT-) or cTnT positive (cTnT+) patients (concentration of cTnT >0.1 microg/L at two different time points during 72 h). RESULTS: At the time of admission to the emergency department receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves of CK-MB isoforms and CK-MBm were not better than that of myoglobin. Six hours after admission CK-MB isoforms and CK-MBm provided statistically significantly larger areas under the curve (AUC) than myoglobin (p < 0.01). When ROC curves were related to the onset of chest pain (< 3 h, 3-6 h, and > 6 h) there were no significant differences between the cardiac markers studied. CONCLUSIONS: According to the present findings, CK-MB isoforms or myoglobin offer no advantage over CK-MBm as early markers of myocardial infarction.

Randomized half-side comparison of narrowband UVB and trimethylpsoralen bath plus UVA treatments for psoriasis.

The efficacy of trimethylpsoralen bath PUVA and UVB TL01 were compared in chronic plaque psoriasis. Patients were randomly assigned to receive UVB TL01 on one side and bath PUVA on the contra-lateral side. Altogether 17 patients received treatments and 15 completed the trial. The decrease in the PASI score was greater with UVB TL01 than PUVA. At the end of the treatment period, the difference was highly significant (p < 0.001). The difference was already significant at week 3 (p = 0.014). The relative median decrease in the PASI score was 77% (24-100%) with UVB and 45% (8-100%) with PUVA. The median cumulative UVB dose was 39.92 (range 13.95-81.56) J/cm2 and the corresponding UVA dose was 8.06 (range 3.31-12.51) J/cm2. All patients relapsed within 4 months. Narrowband UVB improved psoriasis clinically and statistically more efficiently than trimethylpsoralen bath PUVA, and UVB was better tolerated.