Phototherapy for Prurigo Nodularis: Our Experience and a Review of the Literature. / Fototerapia en el prurigo nodular. Experiencia propia y revisión de la literatura.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Prurigo nodularis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by highly pruritic nodular lesions that cause constant itching and scratching and significant quality-of-life impairment. It has been described in a range of conditions, including skin diseases (mainly atopic dermatitis) and metabolic, neurological, and psychiatric disorders. The pathophysiological mechanisms are largely unknown. Various modalities of phototherapy have been described as appropriate and safe treatments for achieving clinical control and alleviating symptoms. In this article, we describe our experience with phototherapy in patients with prurigo nodularis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study of patients who received their first cycle of phototherapy to treat prurigo nodularis between March 2011 and October 2019. Information was collected on epidemiological and clinical characteristics, concomitant treatments, type and duration of phototherapy, maximum dose reached, and response to treatment. RESULTS: We studied 44 patients (30 women and 14 men) with a median age of 65.5years. The most common form of phototherapy used was narrowband UV-B phototherapy (34 cycles, 77.27%) followed by a combination of UV-B and UV-A phototherapy (8 cycles). Response to treatment was considered satisfactory (clearance rate of ≥75%) in 24 patients (55.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Phototherapy is a suitable treatment for prurigo nodularis in a considerable proportion of patients. It can be used as monotherapy or combined with other treatments.

Factores predictores de respuesta y revisión de la toxicidad cutánea de cetuximab y panitumumab en 116 pacientes / Predictors of Tumor Response to Cetuximab and Panitumumab in 116 Patients and a Review of Approaches to Managing Skin Toxicity

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: Cetuximab y panitumumab son anticuerpos anti-factor de crecimiento epidérmico (anti-EGFR) usados para el cáncer colorrectal metastásico. La mayoría de los pacientes desarrollan una erupción papulopustulosa que podría predecir la respuesta tumoral. Además, producen otros efectos adversos cutáneos, por lo que hemos estudiado si estos también podrían ser predictores clínicos de respuesta. Así mismo, hemos realizado una revisión del tratamiento de la erupción papulopustulosa, ya que no existen directrices basadas en la evidencia. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de 116 pacientes. Se incluyeron pacientes afectos de cáncer colorrectal metastásico en tratamiento con los anticuerpos anti-EGFR, cetuximab o panitumumab, en el Hospital Universitario Donostia. RESULTADOS: El 81,9% de los pacientes desarrolló la erupción papulopustulosa, siendo el riesgo mayor y de mayor intensidad cuantos más ciclos de anti-EGFR se administraban (p = 0,03). Todos los pacientes que obtuvieron una respuesta tumoral completa desarrollaron la erupción. Cuanto peor era la respuesta tumoral, menor era la frecuencia de la erupción (p = 0,03). También se encontró una asociación entre la xerosis y la respuesta tumoral (el 53,4% de los que obtuvieron respuesta tumoral desarrollaron xerosis, p = 0,002). El manejo de la erupción papulopustulosa se llevó a cabo mediante un algoritmo desarrollado por nuestro servicio. CONCLUSIONES: En la práctica clínica la erupción papulopustulosa grave y la xerosis pueden ser predictores clínicos de buena respuesta al tratamiento anti-EGFR. Los pacientes con esta erupción deben tratarse precozmente, ya que el tratamiento subóptimo de estos efectos secundarios puede conllevar un retraso en la dosis o su interrupción

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Cetuximab and panitumumab are monoclonal antibodies that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Most patients develop a papulopustular rash, which may predict tumor response. We studied whether the other adverse cutaneous effects associated with these monoclonal antibodies are also clinical predictors of response. We also reviewed publications describing approaches to treating the papulopustular rash since no evidence-based guidelines have yet been published. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 116 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving anti-EGRF therapy with cetuximab or panitumumab at Hospital Universitario Donostia. RESULTS: In total, 81.9% of the patients developed a papulopustular rash. Patients who received the most cycles of treatment with the EGFR inhibitor were at the highest risk of developing the rash, and these patients also had the most severe rash reactions (P = .03). All of the patients who exhibited a complete tumor response had the rash, and the incidence of rash was lower in patients with poor tumor response (P = .03). We also observed an association between tumor response and xerosis (53.4% of the patients who developed xerosis also exhibited tumor response, P = .002). The papulopustular rash was managed according to an algorithm developed by our department. CONCLUSIONS: Severe papulopustular rash and xerosis may be clinical predictors of good response to anti-EGFR therapy. Patients who develop a papulopustular rash should be treated promptly because suboptimal treatment of this and other adverse effects can lead to delays in taking the prescribed anti-EGFR dose or to interruption of therapy