Documentation of psoriasis in routine care - expert consensus on a German data set.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Documenting patient data in psoriasis clinical practice can improve care, but standardized and transparent documentation is rare. The current project aimed to develop a data set for the documentation of psoriasis in daily practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In four online Delphi rounds and one in-person meeting, 27 psoriasis experts allocated variables to a standard, an optimal and an optional data set. Most of the questions were standardized. Open questions were included to allow for the provision of reasons and to enlarge the data sets. Furthermore, in the in-person meeting we considered a) patients' attitudes and b) dermatologists' information on the current usage and acceptability in Germany. RESULTS: The consensus approach resulted in a data set with 69 variables. The standard data set includes 20, the optimal data set 31 and the optional data set 18 variables. In summary, the data set can mainly be grouped into master data, general status and medical history data, medical history of psoriasis, status of psoriasis, diagnostics and comorbidity, therapies and patient-reported outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The consensus recommendation of a standard, an optimal and an optional data set for routine care of psoriasis intends to be a decision-making aid and an orientation for both daily practice and further development of documentation systems.

Brodalumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis: case series and literature review.

Brodalumab, a recombinant fully human monoclonal immunoglobulin IgG2 antibody with high affinity to human interleukin (IL)-17RA, is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. In controlled clinical trials, brodalumab 210 mg administered by subcutaneous injection at weeks 0, 1, and 2, then 210 mg every 2 weeks, produced a rapid onset and sustained clinical response. Consistently, >80% of patients achieved PASI-75 and efficacy was maintained for >2 years. The benefits are apparent soon after the start of therapy and are maintained in the long term. Such results, from the reviewed literature, support the findings from 4 'real world' cases in mainstream clinical practice which are reported here. Psoriatic plaques, including on the scalp, nails, soles and palms, were largely resolved, and quality of life improved markedly. Therapeutic success was achieved in patients naïve to biologics (2 cases) and in those responding inadequately to other biologics (2 cases). The high affinity of brodalumab to human IL-17RA blocks the biological activities of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17A, IL-17C, IL-17E, IL-17F, and IL-17A/F heterodimer, resulting in inhibition of the inflammation and clinical symptoms associated with psoriasis. This mechanism of blocking multiple IL-17 family cytokines differs from that of other available biologics which selectively target some parts of the Th-17 axis and may account for the effectiveness of brodalumab in patients poorly responsive to other biologics, a feature which has also been shown where subgroup analysis has been undertaken in clinical trials. The drug is well tolerated during the normal 12-week induction phase and with prolonged treatment (52 to 120 weeks), as it was in the current case series.

Clinical assessment of a foam dressing containing growth factor-enhancing hydrated polyurethanes.

OBJECTIVE: This study assesses a novel dressing concept in venous leg ulcer (VLU) patients. It is based on boosting endogenous growth factor activities synthesised by functional granulation tissue. METHODS: Patients received treatment for eight weeks with a hydrated polyurethane-containing foam dressing plus concomitant compression therapy. Wound area reduction (WAR), percentage of wounds achieving a relative WAR of ≥40% and ≥60%, wound pain ratings for the last 24 hours and at dressing changes, EQ-5D Quality of Life questionnaire data, dressing handling and safety parameters were recorded. RESULTS: There were 128 patients who received treatment and data for 123 wound treatment courses were documented. Wound area size decreased from 13.3±9.8cm2 to 10.5±12.2cm2 at week eight and median relative WAR was 48.8%. At week eight, a relative WAR ≥40% was reached by 54.5% of the wounds, 41.5% reached a relative WAR of ≥60% and complete healing was observed in 13.5% of wounds. Median wound pain ratings (last 24 hours before dressing change) declined significantly from 30 to 15.5 (100 visual analogue scale [VAS], p=0.0001) and pain at dressing changes from 30 to 12.5 (p≤0.0001). The EQ-5D VAS rating increased from 58.4±19.2mm to 63.1±19.1mm (p=0.0059). CONCLUSION: This clinical assessment shows that the concept of boosting endogenous growth factors through hydrated polyurethanes has the potential to accelerate WAR in VLU patients while decreasing pain levels and improving quality of life parameters.

Sustained remission of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm after unrelated allogeneic stem cell transplantation--a single center experience.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare hematodermic neoplasm which typically presents with skin infiltrates with or without lymphadenopathy and bone marrow involvement. No standard of care exists for this aggressive disease and prognosis is particularly poor. Here, we present our experience with nine BPDCN patients diagnosed at our institution between 2005 and 2012. BPDCN patients were identified in the databases at the Department of Hematology and Oncology, the Department of Dermatology, and the Institute of Pathology at the Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg. There were six male and three female patients with a median age at diagnosis of 66 years. Sites involved were skin (five cases), lymph nodes (five cases), and bone marrow (five cases). Treatments varied from single agent chemotherapy to polychemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation for consolidation. The three patients that were treated with acute leukemia-type induction therapy followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation (one after standard conditioning and two after reduced intensity conditioning using fludarabine in combination with thiotepa) achieved sustained remissions and are alive with a follow-up of 8, 35, and 41 months. In contrast, median survival in the less intensively treated patients was only 9.5 (range 1 to 29) months.

Topical long-term therapy of psoriasis with vitamin D3 analogues, corticosteroids and their two compound formulations: position paper on evidence and use in daily practice.

BACKGROUND: Current data from daily practice show that vitamin D3 analogues, corticosteroids and their fixed combination products are used heterogeneously for topical long-term treatment of psoriasis. AIM: To evaluate scientific evidence about topical long-term therapy with vitamin D3 analogues, corticosteroids and their two-compound-products in psoriasis vulgaris and scalp psoriasis and to develop daily practice recommendations. METHODS: Systematic literature review via PubMed and Embase and informal expert consensus. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 21 relevant clinical trials. Best evidence regarding topical long term treatment was available for the two-compound-formulation containing calcipotriene and betamethasone. In a comparative trial in psoriasis vulgaris the two-compound-formulation showed superior tolerability and cost effectiveness compared to monotherapy. In scalp psoriasis the two-compound-gel was superior compared to calcipotriene monotherapy. Standardized and simplified treatment application modes resulted in a better clinical outcome comparing to on-demand therapies. DAILY PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS: Patients should be proactively involved in the choice of treatment, formulation and mode of application. Besides long-term treatment with the two-compound-formulation other treatment regimens including calcipotriene monotherapy can also be considered. Due to a favorable risk-benefit ratio in maintenance trials and due to better cost-effectiveness the application of two-compound-products once or twice a week after initial therapy is recommended.

Varicella Outbreak in an Indian Couple Living in Germany Caused by VZV Clade VI Acquired during a Trip to The Netherlands.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the cause of varicella and zoster, is divided into five major clades and four provisional clades, the latter of which have been rarely reported worldwide to date. We present a varicella outbreak by the provisional clade VI within an Indian couple in Germany returning from a trip to Amsterdam. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of varicella by the VZV clade VI described in Germany, but the disease was acquired in The Netherlands.

Prevention of intraprocedural puncture site bleeding during arterial port implantation by use of a suture-mediated arterial closure system: a prospective randomized trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate a modified technique for arterial port placement that uses a suture-mediated closure system with the aim to reduce delays caused by intraprocedural oozing around the catheter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty consecutive patients (age, 63.9 y ± 11.8) stratified for regional arterial infusion chemotherapy were prospectively randomized to undergo conventional or modified port implantation. Time for device placement, total procedure time, number of catheters, size of largest and final catheters placed, duration of bleeding from puncture site, procedural delays, and time until hemostasis was achieved were recorded. RESULTS: Time for device placement was 3.7 minutes ± 1.1, with no complications encountered. Total procedure times were 133.0 minutes ± 62.8 for conventional port implantation and 100.0 minutes ± 49.5 for modified implantation (P = .13). No differences were found in the number of catheters or size of largest or final catheter used. Duration of groin bleeding necessitating manual compression was 21.8 minutes ± 24.4 for conventional port implantation, resulting in a mean procedural delay of 6.2 minutes ± 7.0. Hemostasis was achieved after a mean of 17.1 minutes ± 20.9. Groin hematoma was observed in three patients. In contrast, with the modified technique, mean duration of oozing and intraprocedural delays were only 0.2 minutes ± 0.6 and 0.1 minutes ± 0.5, respectively (both P < .0001 vs conventional technique). Hemostasis was achieved within 3.2 minutes ± 4.1 (P < .0001), with no cases of hematoma found. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a suture-mediated closure system facilitated arterial port implantation by effective prevention of groin bleeding while allowing the use of a sheath.

Varicella outbreak in Indian students in Magdeburg with detection of the African-Indian VZV clade 5.

Varicella has the highest contagiosity index of all viral diseases. We report an endemic outbreak of varicella among 4 Indian students in Magdeburg in November and December 2008. An initially severe course was observed in three of these patients with a negative vaccination status. Large vesicular skin lesions with a diameter of up to 8 mm were found in all patients. Molecular genetic tests revealed African/Indian clade 5 in 2 patients, although the European clades (i.e., clade 1 and 3) are the most common in Germany, accounting for 85 %. All patients recovered without any complications after administration of intravenous aciclovir at a dosage of 10 mg per kg body weight. Although isolated cases of varicella are not notifiable according to the German Protection against Infection Act, endemic outbreaks must be reported to the appropriate health surveillance authorities.

Comparative in situ topoproteome analysis reveals differences in patch test-induced eczema: cytotoxicity-dominated nickel versus pleiotrope pollen reaction.

A subgroup of patients with atopic eczema develops acute eczematous reactions to type I allergy-inducing agents such as pollen that clinically resemble type IV allergies induced by haptens like metal ions. To clarify the underlying immunologic mechanisms, this study was designed to map the inflammatory in situ topoproteome of eczematous responses to grass/birch pollen and nickel by using atopy patch test (APT) and nickel patch test (NPT) as an appropriate clinical model, respectively. Biopsies from NPT (n = 6) and APT (n = 6) with positive reactions at 72 h were analysed by multiple epitope ligand cartography (MELC), which enabled to investigate coexpression of 49 different epitopes immunohistochemically in a single given tissue section. Colocalisation of IgE and FcepsilonRI was investigated by confocal microscopy. Compared with APT responses, NPT reactions were dominated by cytotoxic TIA-1 + and CD8 + T cells. In contrast, the immune response in APT reactions appeared more pleiotrope - as detected by colocalisation analysis. Multiple combinatorial molecular phenotype (CMP) motifs containing naive, early maturation and memory T cell (CD45RA, CD7, CD44, CD45R0), and general activation markers (CLA, HLA-DR, CD13, CD29, CD58, CD71, CD138) were significantly higher expressed in APT when compared with NPT reactions. APT response was confirmed to be accompanied by IgE bound to FcepsilonRI. In summary, our results demonstrate that the NPT reaction is clearly dominated by cytotoxic events, while the APT reaction to pollen grains is more heterogeneous and elicits a combined humoral and cellular immune reaction.

Low-dose combination therapy of severe digital ulcers in diffuse progressive systemic sclerosis with the endothelin-1 receptor antagonist bosentan and the phosphodiesterase V inhibitor sildenafil.

Digital ulcers in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) are often refractory to therapy. A frequently chronic aggressive course can lead to the loss of acral limbs involved. A 73-year-old woman developed a dramatic worsening of her ulcerations despite maximum conventional therapy. Switching therapy to bosentan and sildenafil, both in low-dose regimens, resulted for the first time in ten years in a complete healing of the ulcers. If substantiated in a series of patients, the additive and perhaps synergistic clinical benefits of combining bosentan and sildenafil may be a valuable option for the treatment of acral ulcers in PSS.