Mohs micrographic surgery for basal cell carcinomas: results of a Spanish retrospective study and Kaplan­Meier survival analysis of tumour recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a specialized procedure usually limited to specific indications (e.g. high-risk basal cell carcinomas [BCCs]). OBJECTIVE: To determine the recurrence rate of MMS for BCC at a tertiary referral centre in Barcelona, Spain. METHODS: Review of medical records of patients undergoing 534 consecutive MMS interventions for confirmed BCCs. The main outcome measure was biopsy-proven recurrence of BCC at the same anatomical location after MMS. RESULTS: A total of 489 patients underwent MMS for 534 BCCs from April 1999 to December 2011. The patients' mean age was 66 years. The most frequent location was the nasal/perinasal region (38.4%, n = 205). The surgical interventions of 47.9% (n = 256) were for primary BCCs and 52.1% (n = 278) procedures were for recurrent or residual BCCs. The mean follow-up was 30.5 months (range 1­145 months). Thirty-two recurrences were identified in total. The raw recurrence rate following MMS for primary BCCs was 1.2% (3/256) compared to 10.4% (32/278) for recurrent BCC. On multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazard model) only prior treatment (P = 0.018, hazard ratio [HR] 4.68 with 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.30­16.79), multiple prior treatments (P = 0.013, HR 2.72 [95%CI 1.24­5.96]), and healing by secondary intention (P = 0.041, HR 2.88 [95%CI 1.04­7.97]) were independent prognostic factors of recurrence after MMS. LIMITATIONS: The limitations of our study are those of a retrospective study. CONCLUSION: Mohs micrographic surgery for primary high-risk BCCs has a high success rate but the cumulative probability of recurrence increases significantly when tumours with recurrences are referred for MMS.

Adalimumab for the treatment of psoriasis in real life: a retrospective cohort of 119 patients at a single Spanish centre.

BACKGROUND: Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with adalimumab in daily clinical practice are different from those in clinical trials, and outcomes may differ in different geographical settings. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the efficacy, retention of treatment and adverse events in a cohort of such patients at a referral centre in Barcelona, Spain. METHODS: Data from a cohort of 119 consecutive patients treated between January 2008 and March 2013 were retrospectively collected. Drug survival was analysed by the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test and Cox regression. RESULTS: The mean duration of treatment was 25 months (median 22, range 2-60). The 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) response rates at 16 weeks, 6 months and 1 year of treatment were 64%, 58% and 53%, respectively (intention-to-treat analysis). The corresponding PASI 90 values were 49%, 52% and 50%. Biologic-naive patients (41%) had significantly higher PASI 75 and PASI 90 response rates at 6 months and 1 year. On multivariate analysis, only PASI 90 response at 6 months was significantly associated with treatment retention (P = 0.0009), with a hazard ratio of 7.3 (95% confidence interval 2.3-23.6). Forty-eight adverse events (AEs) occurred in 29 patients, and were serious in eight (0.032 events per patient-year). Paradoxical flares of psoriasis or arthritis were seen in five patients. Infections accounted for seven serious AEs, and were the reason for discontinuation in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: PASI 90 response at 6 months was the only independent variable predicting drug survival on multivariate analysis. Infections, including de novo infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, accounted for seven serious AEs.

Predictive factors for successful laparoscopic splenectomy in immune thrombocytopenic purpura: study of clinical and laboratory data.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) offers better short-term results than open surgery for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), but long-term follow-up is required to ensure its efficacy. The remission rate after splenectomy ranges from 49 to 86% and the factors that predict a successful response to surgical management have not been clearly defined. The goal of this study was to determine the preoperative factors that predict a successful outcome following LS. METHODS: From February 1993 to December 2003, LS was consecutively performed in a series of 119 nonselected patients diagnosed with ITP (34 men and 85 women; mean age, 41 years), and clinical results were prospectively recorded. Postoperative follow-up was based on clinical records, follow-up data provided by the referring hematologist, and a phone interview with the patient and/or relative. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for clinical preoperative variables to identify predictive factors of success following LS. RESULTS: Over a mean period of 33 months, 103 patients (84%) were available for follow-up with a remission rate of 89% (92 patients, 77 with complete remission with platelet count > 150,000). Eleven patients did not respond to surgery (platelet count < 50,000). Mortality during follow-up was 2.5% (two cases not related to hematological pathology and one case without response to splenectomy). Preoperative clinical variables evaluated to identify predictive factors of response to surgery were sex, age, treatment (corticoids alone or associated with Ig or chemotherapy), other immune pathology, duration of disease, and preoperative platelet count. In a subgroup of 52 patients, we also evaluated the type of autoantibodies and corticoid doses required to maintain a platelet count > 50,000. Multivariate analysis showed that none of the variables evaluated could be considered as predictive factors of response to LS due to the high standard error. CONCLUSION: Long-term clinical results show that LS is a safe and effective therapy for ITP. However, a higher number of nonresponders is needed to determine which variables predict response to LS for ITP.