Measurement assessment of Minimal Disease Activity in psoriasis in Spain: a national cross-sectional study. / Valoración de la medida de Actividad Mínima de Enfermedad en Psoriasis en España: estudio transversal nacional.

INTRODUCTION: in 2017, the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Psoriasis Working Group (PWG) designed the Minimal Disease Activity (MDA) criteria to determine the level of disease activity. We hereby present the results of an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study of the nationwide application of these criteria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we conducted a non-randomized sampling, stratified to achieve autonomic and provincial representation of consecutive patients with psoriasis (Ps) vulgaris without active arthritis. A total of 830 patients were included: 493 men (59.5%), with a mean age of 51.4 years (SD, 14.2), from all autonomous regions of Spain (except for Ceuta and Melilla) and 44 (88%) out of the 50 provinces. A questionnaire was obtained with demographic data, DLQI, subjective assessment-on a scale from 0 to 10-of itching, erythema, desquamation, visibility, and the patients' PASI and BSA. RESULTS: more than 50% failed to meet the MDA criteria (491; 59.2%), with significant differences being reported by region, sex, and age. Additionally, significant differences were reported based on the therapy used (p < 0.001). The use of biological therapies was associated with higher MDA compliance compared to other therapies (59.4% vs 23.3%). No differences were reported among various biological therapies. CONCLUSIONS: the overall rate of MDA compliance is low, with differences being based on geographic location, sex, age, and drug used, yet none of these factors separately justify them.

Experience With Bexarotene to Treat Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas: A Study of the Spanish Working Group of Cutaneous Lymphomas. / [Artículo traducido] Experiencia con bexaroteno en linfoma cutáneo de células T: un estudio del Grupo Español de Linfomas Cutáneos (GELC).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Bexarotene has been approved to treat advanced stage cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) since 1999. However, very few data have been published on its long-term safety and efficacy profile. The aim of this study is to determine the tolerability to bexarotene and outcomes by collecting the 2nd largest case series to date on its long-term use vs CTCL. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This was a multicenter retrospective review of 216 patients with mycosis fungoides (174), or Sézary syndrome (42) on a 10-year course of bexarotene alone or in combination with other therapies at 19 tertiary referral teaching hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 133 men (62%) and 83 women (38%) were included, with a mean age of 63.5 year (27-95). A total of 45% were on bexarotene monotherapy for the entire study period, 22% started on bexarotene but eventually received an additional therapy, 13% were on another treatment but eventually received bexarotene while the remaining 20% received a combination therapy since the beginning. The median course of treatment was 20.78 months (1-114); and the overall response rate, 70.3%. Complete and partial response rates were achieved in 26% and 45% of the patients, respectively. Treatment was well tolerated, being the most common toxicities hypertriglyceridemia (79%), hypercholesterolemia (71%), and hypothyroidism (52%). No treatment-related grade 5 adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms bexarotene is a safe and effective therapy for the long-term treatment of CTCL.

Real-world Safety and Efficacy of Risankizumab in Psoriatic Patients: A Multicenter, Retrospective, and Not-interventional Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Risankizumab - a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the p19 subunit of IL-23 - has been recently approved to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Real-world data based on a representative pool of patients are currently lacking. OBJECTIVE: To assess the mid- and long-term safety and efficacy profile of risankizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis in the routine clinical practice. METHODS: This was a retrospective and multicenter study of consecutive psoriatic patients on risankizumab from April 2020 through November 2022. The primary endpoint was the number of patients who achieved a 100% improvement in their Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (PASI100) on week 52. RESULTS: A total of 510 patients, 198 (38.8%) women and 312 (61.2%) men were included in the study. The mean age was 51.7±14.4 years. A total of 227 (44.5%) study participants were obese (body mass index [BMI] >30kg/m2). The mean baseline PASI score was 11.4±7.2, and the rate of patients who achieved PASI100 on week 52, 67.0%. Throughout the study follow-up, 21%, 50.0%, 59.0%, and 66% of the patients achieved PASI100 on weeks 4, 16, 24, and 40, respectively. The number of patients who achieved a PASI ≤2 was greater in the group with a BMI ≤30kg/m2 on weeks 4 (P=.04), 16 (P=.001), and 52 (P=.002). A statistically significantly greater number of patients achieved PASI100 in the treatment-naïve group on weeks 16 and 52 (P=.001 each, respectively). On week 16 a significantly lower number of participants achieved PASI100 in the group with psoriatic arthropathy (P=.04). Among the overall study sample, 22 (4.3%) patients reported some type of adverse event and 20 (3.9%) discontinued treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Risankizumab proved to be a safe and effective therapy for patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis in the routine clinical practice.

Experience With Bexarotene to Treat Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas: A Study of the Spanish Working Group of Cutaneous Lymphomas.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Bexarotene has been approved to treat advanced stage cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) since 1999. However, very few data have been published on its long-term safety and efficacy profile. The aim of this study is to determine the tolerability to bexarotene and outcomes by collecting the 2nd largest case series to date on its long-term use vs CTCL. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This was a multicenter retrospective review of 216 patients with mycosis fungoides (174), or Sézary syndrome (42) on a 10-year course of bexarotene alone or in combination with other therapies at 19 tertiary referral teaching hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 133 men (62%) and 83 women (38%) were included, with a mean age of 63.5 year (27-95). A total of 45% were on bexarotene monotherapy for the entire study period, 22% started on bexarotene but eventually received an additional therapy, 13% were on another treatment but eventually received bexarotene while the remaining 20% received a combination therapy since the beginning. The median course of treatment was 20.78 months (1-114); and the overall response rate, 70.3%. Complete and partial response rates were achieved in 26% and 45% of the patients, respectively. Treatment was well tolerated, being the most common toxicities hypertriglyceridemia (79%), hypercholesterolemia (71%), and hypothyroidism (52%). No treatment-related grade 5 adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms bexarotene is a safe and effective therapy for the long-term treatment of CTCL.

Comparing the Use of Topical Therapy Along with Anti-IL-17 and Anti-IL-23 to Treat Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis in the Routine Clinical Practice. / Comparación del uso de la terapia tópica combinada con anti-interleucina-17 y anti-interleucina-23 en la psoriasis moderada grave en la práctica clínica.

BACKGROUND: Combinations of topical (TT) and biological therapies (BT) are a common thing in the routine clinical practice. However, the scientific medical literature on how TT is, actually, used after the initiation of BT is scarce, particularly in combination with anti-IL17, or anti-IL23. OBJECTIVES: To describe the frequency of the concomitant use of TT + BT at baseline and after a 6-month course of several drugs (anti-IL17, ustekinumab, and anti-IL23). Our secondary endpoints are to describe the type of topical therapy used, compare the frequency of use of TT among the different groups of BT, describe the survival of topical therapy in these patients, and identify the factors that can impact the use or discontinuation of topical therapy in these patients (clinical response, quality of life, type of drug, etc.). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational, and single-center study of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with anti-IL17 (secukinumab, ixekizumab), anti-IL17R (brodalumab), ustekinumab, and guselkumab from January 2015 through December 2020. RESULTS: We included a total of 138 patients. When treatment started, 82.7% were on TT (55% daily), and after 6 months, 86.6% had discontinued TT. Regarding the analysis by type of drug, at 6 months, we found that 100% of the patients with BRO had discontinued topical treatment. We did not find any significant differences in the frequency of use of TT based on the BT used during the 6-month course of treatment. The estimated mean course of TT was 4.3 months (SD, 6.7). Also, the estimated mean course of TT was significantly shorter in the group of patients who achieved PASI100 (2.8 months vs. 8.1 months). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, we saw a significant decrease in the frequency of use of TT at 6 months after starting BT in the routine clinical practice. This reduction occurred earlier in patients who improved their objective clinical response and quality of life.

Percepción de la mujer con psoriasis en la planificación familiar: Estudio descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico / Family Planning Concerns Among Women With Psoriasis: A Descriptive, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study

Antecedentes y objetivos La psoriasis afecta a un gran porcentaje de mujeres en edad fértil. Nuestro objetivo fue conocer las inquietudes de las mujeres con psoriasis en relación con la planificación familiar. Material y métodos Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico realizado entre marzo del 2020 y octubre del 2021. Se recabaron datos sociodemográficos e inquietudes relacionadas con la planificación familiar de mujeres entre 18-45 años con psoriasis en placas y candidatas a recibir tratamiento sistémico. Resultados Se reclutaron 153 pacientes de 11 centros españoles (edad media: 35,4 ± 8 años, duración media de la enfermedad: 16,7 años); 38,4% de los casos tenían una enfermedad moderada/grave para los médicos, aunque la percepción de la actividad era significativamente superior para las pacientes. En una de cada tres mujeres, la enfermedad limitaba o retrasaba el deseo gestacional. Existía preocupación de que la enfermedad empeorara al tener que retirar o cambiar un fármaco o que los tratamientos perjudicaran al bebé. Alrededor de la mitad de las pacientes no había recibido información sobre planificación familiar en la consulta, especialmente aquellas mujeres sin embarazos previos. Las mujeres con tratamiento biológico (58,7%) tenían mejor situación clínica, mejor calidad de vida y menos alteraciones en la esfera sexual que las pacientes sin tratamiento biológico. Conclusiones Las pacientes con psoriasis tienen numerosas preocupaciones relacionadas con la planificación familiar. En algunos casos, estos miedos podrían llevar a retrasar y/o limitar el deseo gestacional. Sería necesario incrementar la información que se da a las pacientes y mejorar la formación de los dermatólogos en este tema (AU)

Background and objective A significant proportion of women of childbearing age have psoriasis. The aim of this study was to examine family planning concerns in this population. Material and methods Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between March 2020 and October 2021. We collected sociodemographic data and analyzed responses to a family planning questionnaire administered to women aged 18 to 45 years with plaque psoriasis who were candidates for systemic treatment. Results We studied 153 patients (mean [SD] age, 35.4 [8.0] years; mean disease duration, 16.7 years) being treated at 11 Spanish hospitals. Overall, 38.4% of women were considered to have moderate to severe psoriasis by their physicians; perceived severity ratings were significantly higher among women. Psoriasis affected the women's desire to become pregnant or led to their delaying pregnancy in 1 in 3 respondents. They were concerned that their condition might worsen if they had to discontinue or switch treatment or that the treatment might harm the baby. Approximately half of the women had not received family planning counseling from their physicians, and this was more likely to be the case among never-pregnant women. Women on biologic therapy (58.7%) had better psoriasis control and a better quality of life than women on other treatments. Their sexual health was also less affected. Conclusions Women with psoriasis have numerous family planning concerns, which in some cases can lead them to delay pregnancy or affect their desire to become pregnant. Dermatologists need to receive better training regarding family planning in women with psoriasis so that they can provide their patients with more and better information (AU)

[Translated article] Family Planning Concerns Among Women With Psoriasis: A Descriptive, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study / Percepción de la mujer con psoriasis en la planificación familiar: estudio descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico

Background and objective A significant proportion of women of childbearing age have psoriasis. The aim of this study was to examine family planning concerns in this population. Material and methods Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between March 2020 and October 2021. We collected sociodemographic data and analyzed responses to a family planning questionnaire administered to women aged 18 to 45 years with plaque psoriasis who were candidates for systemic treatment. Results We studied 153 patients (mean [SD] age, 35.4 [8.0] years; mean disease duration, 16.7 years) being treated at 11 Spanish hospitals. Overall, 38.4% of women were considered to have moderate to severe psoriasis by their physicians; perceived severity ratings were significantly higher among women. Psoriasis affected the women's desire to become pregnant or led to their delaying pregnancy in 1 in 3 respondents. They were concerned that their condition might worsen if they had to discontinue or switch treatment or that the treatment might harm the baby. Approximately half of the women had not received family planning counseling from their physicians, and this was more likely to be the case among never-pregnant women. Women on biologic therapy (58.7%) had better psoriasis control and a better quality of life than women on other treatments. Their sexual health was also less affected. Conclusions Women with psoriasis have numerous family planning concerns, which in some cases can lead them to delay pregnancy or affect their desire to become pregnant. Dermatologists need to receive better training regarding family planning in women with psoriasis so that they can provide their patients with more and better information (AU)

Antecedentes y objetivos La psoriasis afecta a un gran porcentaje de mujeres en edad fértil. Nuestro objetivo fue conocer las inquietudes de las mujeres con psoriasis en relación con la planificación familiar. Material y métodos Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico realizado entre marzo del 2020 y octubre del 2021. Se recabaron datos sociodemográficos e inquietudes relacionadas con la planificación familiar de mujeres entre 18-45 años con psoriasis en placas y candidatas a recibir tratamiento sistémico. Resultados Se reclutaron 153 pacientes de 11 centros españoles (edad media: 35,4 ± 8 años, duración media de la enfermedad: 16,7 años); 38,4% de los casos tenían una enfermedad moderada/grave para los médicos, aunque la percepción de la actividad era significativamente superior para las pacientes. En una de cada tres mujeres, la enfermedad limitaba o retrasaba el deseo gestacional. Existía preocupación de que la enfermedad empeorara al tener que retirar o cambiar un fármaco o que los tratamientos perjudicaran al bebé. Alrededor de la mitad de las pacientes no había recibido información sobre planificación familiar en la consulta, especialmente aquellas mujeres sin embarazos previos. Las mujeres con tratamiento biológico (58,7%) tenían mejor situación clínica, mejor calidad de vida y menos alteraciones en la esfera sexual que las pacientes sin tratamiento biológico. Conclusiones Las pacientes con psoriasis tienen numerosas preocupaciones relacionadas con la planificación familiar. En algunos casos, estos miedos podrían llevar a retrasar y/o limitar el deseo gestacional. Sería necesario incrementar la información que se da a las pacientes y mejorar la formación de los dermatólogos en este tema (AU)

Family Planning Concerns Among Women With Psoriasis: A Descriptive, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study. / Percepción de la mujer con psoriasis en la planificación familiar: Estudio descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A significant proportion of women of childbearing age have psoriasis. The aim of this study was to examine family planning concerns in this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between March 2020 and October 2021. We collected sociodemographic data and analyzed responses to a family planning questionnaire administered to women aged 18 to 45 years with plaque psoriasis who were candidates for systemic treatment. RESULTS: We studied 153 patients (mean [SD] age, 35.4 [8.0] years; mean disease duration, 16.7 years) being treated at 11 Spanish hospitals. Overall, 38.4% of women were considered to have moderate to severe psoriasis by their physicians; perceived severity ratings were significantly higher among women. Psoriasis affected the women's desire to become pregnant or led to their delaying pregnancy in 1 in 3 respondents. They were concerned that their condition might worsen if they had to discontinue or switch treatment or that the treatment might harm the baby. Approximately half of the women had not received family planning counseling from their physicians, and this was more likely to be the case among never-pregnant women. Women on biologic therapy (58.7%) had better psoriasis control and a better quality of life than women on other treatments. Their sexual health was also less affected. CONCLUSIONS: Women with psoriasis have numerous family planning concerns, which in some cases can lead them to delay pregnancy or affect their desire to become pregnant. Dermatologists need to receive better training regarding family planning in women with psoriasis so that they can provide their patients with more and better information.

[Translated article] Family Planning Concerns Among Women With Psoriasis: A Descriptive, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A significant proportion of women of childbearing age have psoriasis. The aim of this study was to examine family planning concerns in this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between March 2020 and October 2021. We collected sociodemographic data and analyzed responses to a family planning questionnaire administered to women aged 18 to 45 years with plaque psoriasis who were candidates for systemic treatment. RESULTS: We studied 153 patients (mean [SD] age, 35.4 [8.0] years; mean disease duration, 16.7 years) being treated at 11 Spanish hospitals. Overall, 38.4% of women were considered to have moderate to severe psoriasis by their physicians; perceived severity ratings were significantly higher among women. Psoriasis affected the women's desire to become pregnant or led to their delaying pregnancy in 1 in 3 respondents. They were concerned that their condition might worsen if they had to discontinue or switch treatment or that the treatment might harm the baby. Approximately half of the women had not received family planning counseling from their physicians, and this was more likely to be the case among never-pregnant women. Women on biologic therapy (58.7%) had better psoriasis control and a better quality of life than women on other treatments. Their sexual health was also less affected. CONCLUSIONS: Women with psoriasis have numerous family planning concerns, which in some cases can lead them to delay pregnancy or affect their desire to become pregnant. Dermatologists need to receive better training regarding family planning in women with psoriasis so that they can provide their patients with more and better information.

Pharmacogenetic biomarkers for secukinumab response in psoriasis patients in real-life clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Prediction of the response to a biological treatment in psoriasis patients would allow efficient treatment allocation. OBJECTIVE: To identify polymorphisms associated with secukinumab response in psoriasis patients in a daily practice setting. METHODS: We studied 180 SNPs in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis recruited from 15 Spanish hospitals. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated by absolute PASI ≤3 and ≤1 at 6 and 12 months. Individuals were genotyped using a custom Taqman array. Multiple logistic regression models were generated. Sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve (AUC) were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients were studied at 6 months, (67% achieved absolute PASI ≤ 3 and 65% PASI ≤ 1) and 162 at 12 months (75% achieved absolute PASI ≤ 3 and 64% PASI ≤ 1). Multivariable analysis showed the association of different sets of SNPs with the response to secukinumab. The model of absolute PASI≤3 at 6 months showed best values of sensitivity and specificity. Four SNPs were associated with the capability of achieving absolute PASI ≤ 3 at 6 months. rs1801274 (FCGR2A), rs2431697 (miR-146a) and rs10484554 (HLCw6) were identified as risk factors for failure to achieve absolute PASI≤3, while rs1051738 (PDE4A) was protective. AUC including these genotypes, weight of patients and history of biological therapy was 0.88 (95% CI 0.83-0.94), with a sensitivity of 48.6% and specificity of 95.7% to discriminate between both phenotypes. CONCLUSION: We have identified a series of polymorphisms associated with the response to secukinumab capable of predicting the potential response/non-response to this drug in patients with plaque psoriasis.

A Series of 69 COVID-related Dermatoses With Biopsy, Immunohistochemistry With Anti-spike 3, in situ Hybridization and PCR: A Critical Reappraisal of Viral Involvement in COVID-19 Skin Lesions / Serie de 69 dermatosis relacionadas con la COVID con biopsia, estudio inmunohistoquímico con anti-spike 3, hibridación in situ y PCR: Una revisión crítica de la afectación cutánea relacionada con la COVID-19

Background Despite the large number of articles published on skin lesions related to COVID-19, clinicopathological correlation has not been performed consistently and immunohistochemistry to demonstrate spike 3 protein expression has not been validated through RT-PCR. Material and method We compiled 69 cases of patients with confirmed COVID-19, where skin lesions were clinically and histopathologically studied. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-PCR was performed in skin biopsies. Results After a careful review of the cases, 15 were found to be dermatosis not related to COVID-19, while the rest of the lesions could be classified according to their clinical characteristics as vesicular (4), maculopapular eruptions (41), urticariform (9), livedo and necrosis (10) and pernio-like (5). Although histopathological features were similar to previously reported results, we found two previously unreported findings, maculopapular eruptions with squamous eccrine syringometaplasia and neutrophilic epitheliotropism. IHC showed in some cases endothelial and epidermal staining but RT-PCR was negative in all the tested cases. Thus, direct viral involvement could not be demonstrated. Conclusions Despite presenting the largest series of confirmed COVID-19 patients with histopathologically studied skin manifestations, direct viral involvement was difficult to establish. Vasculopathic and urticariform lesions seem to be those more clearly related to the viral infection, despite IHC or RT-PCR negative results failed to demonstrate viral presence. These findings, as in other dermatological areas, highlight the need of a clinico-pathological correlation to increase knowledge about viral involvement in COVID-19 skin-related lesions (AU)

Antecedentes A pesar del gran número de artículos publicados sobre las lesiones cutáneas relacionadas con la COVID-19, no se ha realizado una correlación clinicopatológica de manera consistente, y no ha sido validado el estudio de inmunohistoquímica para demostrar la expresión de la proteína spike 3 mediante RT-PCR. Material y métodos Recopilamos 69 casos de pacientes con COVID-19 confirmada, en los que se estudiaron las lesiones cutáneas a nivel clínico e histopatológico, habiéndose realizado la prueba inmunohistoquímica (IHQ) y RT-PCR en las biopsias cutáneas. Resultados Tras una revisión detallada de los casos, en 15 de ellos se encontró que la dermatosis no guardaba relación con la COVID-19, mientras que el resto de las lesiones podrían clasificarse de acuerdo con sus características clínicas como vesiculares (4), erupciones maculopapulares (41), urticariformes (9), livedo y necrosis (10) y de tipo perniosis (5). Aunque las características histopatológicas fueron similares a los resultados previamente reportados, encontramos dos hallazgos no reportados previamente: erupciones maculopapulares con siringometaplasia ecrina escamosa y epiteliotropismo neutrofílico. La IHQ reflejó en ciertos casos tinción endotelial y epidérmica, pero la prueba RT-PCR fue negativa en todos los casos probados. Por ello no pudo demostrarse el compromiso viral directo. Conclusiones A pesar de presentar la mayor serie de pacientes con COVID-19 confirmada y manifestaciones cutáneas histopatológicamente estudiadas, el compromiso viral directo fue difícil de establecer. Las lesiones vasculopáticas e urticariformes parecen ser las más claramente relacionadas con la infección viral, a pesar de que los resultados negativos de la IHQ o RT-PCR no pudieron demostrar la presencia viral (AU)

[Articulo traducido] Serie de 69 dermatosis relacionadas con la COVID-19 con biopsia, estudio inmunohistoquímico con anti-spike 3, hibridación in situ y PCR: Una revisión crítica de la afectación cutánea relacionada con la COVID-19 / A Series of 69 COVID-related Dermatoses With Biopsy, Immunohistochemistry With Anti-spike 3, in situ Hybridization and PCR: A Critical Reappraisal of Viral Involvement in COVID-19 Skin Lesions

Antecedentes A pesar del gran número de artículos publicados sobre las lesiones cutáneas relacionadas con la COVID-19, no se ha realizado una correlación clinicopatológica de manera consistente, y no ha sido validado el estudio de inmunohistoquímica para demostrar la expresión de la proteína spike 3 mediante RT-PCR. Material y métodos Recopilamos 69 casos de pacientes con COVID-19 confirmada, en los que se estudiaron las lesiones cutáneas a nivel clínico e histopatológico, habiéndose realizado la prueba inmunohistoquímica (IHQ) y RT-PCR en las biopsias cutáneas. Resultados Tras una revisión detallada de los casos, en 15 de ellos se encontró que la dermatosis no guardaba relación con la COVID-19, mientras que el resto de las lesiones podrían clasificarse de acuerdo con sus características clínicas como vesiculares (4), erupciones maculopapulares (41), urticariformes (9), livedo y necrosis (10) y de tipo perniosis (5). Aunque las características histopatológicas fueron similares a los resultados previamente reportados, encontramos dos hallazgos no reportados previamente: erupciones maculopapulares con siringometaplasia ecrina escamosa y epiteliotropismo neutrofílico. La IHQ reflejó en ciertos casos tinción endotelial y epidérmica, pero la prueba RT-PCR fue negativa en todos los casos probados. Por ello no pudo demostrarse el compromiso viral directo. Conclusiones A pesar de presentar la mayor serie de pacientes con COVID-19 confirmada y manifestaciones cutáneas histopatológicamente estudiadas, el compromiso viral directo fue difícil de establecer. Las lesiones vasculopáticas e urticariformes parecen ser las más claramente relacionadas con la infección viral, a pesar de que los resultados negativos de la IHQ o RT-PCR no pudieron demostrar la presencia viral (AU)

Background Despite the large number of articles published on skin lesions related to COVID-19, clinicopathological correlation has not been performed consistently and immunohistochemistry to demonstrate spike 3 protein expression has not been validated through RT-PCR. Material and method We compiled 69 cases of patients with confirmed COVID-19, where skin lesions were clinically and histopathologically studied. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-PCR was performed in skin biopsies. Results After a careful review of the cases, 15 were found to be dermatosis not related to COVID-19, while the rest of the lesions could be classified according to their clinical characteristics as vesicular (4), maculopapular eruptions (41), urticariform (9), livedo and necrosis (10) and pernio-like (5). Although histopathological features were similar to previously reported results, we found two previously unreported findings, maculopapular eruptions with squamous eccrine syringometaplasia and neutrophilic epitheliotropism. IHC showed in some cases endothelial and epidermal staining but RT-PCR was negative in all the tested cases. Thus, direct viral involvement could not be demonstrated. Conclusions Despite presenting the largest series of confirmed COVID-19 patients with histopathologically studied skin manifestations, direct viral involvement was difficult to establish. Vasculopathic and urticariform lesions seem to be those more clearly related to the viral infection, despite IHC or RT-PCR negative results failed to demonstrate viral presence. These findings, as in other dermatological areas, highlight the need of a clinico-pathological correlation to increase knowledge about viral involvement in COVID-19 skin-related lesions (AU)