Real-world effectiveness and safety of apremilast in psoriasis at 52 weeks: a retrospective, observational, multicentre study by the Spanish Psoriasis Group.

BACKGROUND: Little has been published on the real-world effectiveness and safety of apremilast in psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness, safety and drug survival of apremilast at 52 weeks in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis or palmoplantar psoriasis in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Retrospective, multicentre study of adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis or palmoplantar psoriasis treated with apremilast from March 2016 to March 2018. RESULTS: We studied 292 patients with plaque psoriasis and 85 patients with palmoplantar psoriasis. The mean (SD) Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was 10.7 (7.0) at baseline and 3.0 (4.2) at 52 weeks. After 12 months of treatment, 73.6% of patients had a PASI score of 3 or less. In terms of relative improvement by week 52, 49.7% of patients achieved PASI-75 (≥75% reduction in PASI score) and 26.5% achieved PASI-90. The mean physician global assessment score for palmoplantar psoriasis fell from 4.2 (5.2) at baseline to 1.3 (1.3) at week 52. Overall drug survival after 1 year of treatment with apremilast was 54.9 %. The main reasons for treatment discontinuation were loss of efficacy (23.9%) and adverse events (15.9%). Almost half of the patients in our series (47%) experienced at least one adverse event. The most common events were gastrointestinal problems. CONCLUSIONS: Apremilast may be a suitable alternative for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis and palmoplantar psoriasis. Although the drug has a good safety profile, adverse gastrointestinal effects are common.

[Etanercept in childhood psoriasis]. / Etanercept en psoriasis infantil.

We present the case of a 10-year old male child with severe incapacitating psoriasis resistant to multiple treatments. He was treated with etanercept successfully in our Dermatology Department. The use of etanercept in children and adolescents with severe psoriasis has been recently approved by the European Medicines Agency. Thus, it has become the first and only biological drug authorized for its use in the child population.

Patient and Physician Satisfaction with Calcipotriol and Betamethasone Dipropionate Aerosol Foam in the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis on the Body. / Satisfacción del paciente y el médico con la espuma en aerosol de calcipotriol y dipropionato de betametasona para el tratamiento de la psoriasis vulgar en el cuerpo.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BD) aerosol foam is more effective in the treatment of plaque psoriasis than earlier formulations incorporating this combination of active ingredients. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient and physician satisfaction with Cal/BD aerosol foam in the treatment of plaque psoriasis on the body. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study of 446 patients with plaque psoriasis affecting no more than 30% of the body surface area who had received treatment with Cal/BD aerosol foam for 4 weeks. The patients rated their satisfaction with the treatment using the TSQM-9 (Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication) and the physicians on a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Patients were highly satisfied with Cal/BD aerosol in terms of its ability to treat their condition (84%), relieve their symptoms (84.4%), and act rapidly (82.8%). With respect to convenience, the patients gave high ratings to ease of use (91.8%), ease of planning (93.9%), and ease of following instructions (89.9%). Global satisfaction was also high, with 85% of patients expressing that they were satisfied, very satisfied, or extremely satisfied with the treatment. Of the physicians, 85.7% stated that they were quite or very satisfied with the treatment. CONCLUSION: Both patients and physicians expressed high satisfaction with the use of Cal/BD aerosol foam for the treatment of plaque psoriasis on the body.

[Adalimumab: the molecule and manufacturing procedure]. / Adalimumab: la molécula y el proceso de obtención.

Adalimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeted toward tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha is proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases, as the psoriasis. The production process of adalimumab is complex and it is based in the called phague display technology.

[Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation followed by oral bexarotene in a patient with advanced mycosis fungoides]. / Trasplante autólogo de progenitores hematopoyéticos seguido de bexaroteno oral en paciente con micosis fungoide avanzada.

We describe the case of a 17-year-old patient with rapidly progressing and aggressive mycosis fungoides, with multiple cutaneous tumors and large cell transformation. She was initially treated with 3 cycles of high-dose chemotherapy with mega-CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) without response, leading to the decision to undertake autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Partial remission of the disease was achieved with this treatment and subsequent introduction of oral bexarotene led to complete remission, which has been maintained for more than 3 years with good tolerance of oral therapy. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the use of oral bexarotene.

[Eruptive pseudoangiomatosis: study of 7 cases]. / Pseudoangiomatosis eruptiva: 7 casos clínicos.

INTRODUCTION: Eruptive pseudoangiomatosis consists in the acute development of small vascular lesions in the face and extremities that resolve in several weeks without scarring. Lesions are described as 3-4 mm asymptomatic macules and papules with peripheral whitish halo that blanch upon pressure. Initially it was considered a disease limited to children but it has also been described in adults. It overlaps with the entity known in Japan as <>, possibly caused by an insect named Culex pipiens pallens. METHODS: We report a serie of 7 patients that consulted for lesions compatible with eruptive pseudoangiomatosis. We performed a detailed clinical history and histological, microbiological and serological studies. Follow-up time was up to 4 years. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of patients were women and the mean age was 62 years. All cases appeared in spring/summer and 71 % relapsed. Lesions predominated in the face and extremities and the outbreak lasted 2-4 weeks. The anamnesis did not disclose any specific etiologic agent in any of the cases. Complete laboratory tests including serologies and cultures were negative or within normal limits. Histological study revealed vascular dilatation in all cases with endothelial cell protrusion and a peripheral lymphohistiocytic infiltrate. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, the etiology of this entity is not well established although it probably represents a reactive disorder to different etiologic processes.