Usefulness and correlation with clinical response of serum ustekinumab levels measured at 6 weeks versus 12 weeks.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring serum drug levels has been proposed as a useful tool for improving and personalizing the management of psoriasis. However, in the case of ustekinumab the usefulness of such monitoring was not demonstrated when drug levels were measured at week 12. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the correlation of serum ustekinumab levels measured at weeks 6 and 12 with clinical response. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, we enrolled patients with psoriasis treated with ustekinumab 45 mg every 12 weeks for at least 24 weeks. We measured serum ustekinumab levels at weeks 6 and 12 in each patient. Using the absolute PASI score, response to treatment was defined as optimal (≤1), excellent (≤3), appropriate (>3 and ≤5), or inappropriate (>5). RESULTS: About 54 serum samples from 27 patients were analyzed. No correlation was found between serum drug levels and absolute PASI at week 12. At week 6, an inverse linear correlation was found (p = .0001). Moreover, serum levels at week 6 were higher in patients with optimal, excellent and appropriate responses than in patients with an inappropriate response. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of ustekinumab serum levels at week 6 could provide useful information in routine clinical practice.

Correlation between trough serum levels of adalimumab and absolute PASI score in a series of patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: The possibility of monitoring serum drug levels has opened the door to optimising biologic therapy. To consolidate this advance, it is imperative to demonstrate an adequate correlation between serum drug levels and clinical course. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether a correlation exists between adalimumab levels and clinical response measured as absolute PASI. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, we enrolled 51 patients with psoriasis treated with adalimumab for at least 16 s. Patients received approved doses of adalimumab, but after 52 s the dosing interval could be modified according to clinical criteria. Excellent response was defined as PASI ≤3, appropriate response as PASI >3 and ≤5 and inappropriate response as PASI> 5. Correlations were calculated using Spearman's correlation test. RESULTS: A total of 92 serum samples from 51 patients were analysed. Significant differences were found in serum trough levels between patients achieving an excellent response (6.46 µg/mL), versus an appropriate (2.5 µg/mL) and an inappropriate response (2 µg/mL). The therapeutic range for adalimumab serum levels was from 3.30 to 7.30 µg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: We found an adequate correlation between drug serum levels and PASI scores. Monitoring of absolute PASI and serum levels can provide a personalised and cost-effective evaluation.

Lesiones lobuladas en los dedos de la mano / Lobulated Lesions on the Fingers

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Toxicodermias por telaprevir en el tratamiento de la infección crónica por el genotipo 1 del virus de la hepatitis C. Estudio prospectivo / Drug eruptions induced by telaprevir in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection: a prospective study

INTRODUCCIÓN: Telaprevir es un fármaco que administrado junto a interferón y ribavirina incrementa de forma significativa la respuesta al tratamiento de la infección por el virus de la hepatitis C. Sin embargo, su empleo incrementa también la probabilidad de desarrollar efectos adversos, en muchos casos cutáneos que pueden condicionar el mantenimiento del tratamiento. OBJETIVO: Conocer la incidencia, características clínicas y evolutivas y respuesta al tratamiento de las toxicodermias por telaprevir en el contexto del tratamiento de la infección por el virus de la hepatitis C. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo observacional realizado entre mayo de 2012 y julio de 2013 en el que se incluyeron aquellos pacientes que iniciaron tratamiento con telaprevir durante ese periodo. En aquellos en los que se detectaron toxicodermia se recogieron los datos demográficos de los pacientes, las características clínicas de las lesiones y la evolución tras la aplicación de las recomendaciones de las guías clínicas. RESULTADOS: De un total de 43 pacientes que recibieron tratamiento triple un 46% presentó toxicodermia atribuible a telaprevir. En el 90% de los casos esta fue leve o moderada (grados 1 o 2) y consistió en un exantema constituido por pápulas y placas eritematoedematosas y descamativas. En alrededor de un tercio de los pacientes se comprobó la progresión de la toxicodermia, principalmente en extensión, durante el curso del tratamiento. En 2 casos (4,6%) las lesiones cutáneas condicionaron la suspensión del fármaco. Un 79% de los tratados (34 pacientes) alcanzó una respuesta viral sostenida tras el tratamiento. CONCLUSIONES: Las toxicodermias asociadas a telaprevir son frecuentes en el curso del tratamiento y a menudo progresivas. Sin embargo, solo de forma excepcional condicionan su suspensión

INTRODUCTION: When co-administered with interferon and ribavirin, the prescription drug telaprevir significantly improves treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Its use, however, also increases the likelihood of adverse effects that may lead to discontinuation of treatment. Cutaneous adverse effects are particularly common. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of drug eruptions induced by telaprevir in patients receiving HCV treatment and to analyze the clinical course of lesions and response to treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study of all patients who started a treatment regimen that included telaprevir between May 2012 and July 2013. We recorded the demographic characteristics of the patients who developed telaprevir-induced eruptions, and analyzed the clinical characteristics of the lesions and their clinical course following the application of guideline-based treatment recommendations. RESULTS: Twenty (46%) of the 43 patients who received triple therapy with interferon, ribavirin, and telaprevir during the study period developed drug reactions attributable to telaprevir. The reaction was classified as mild or moderate (grades 1 or 2) in 90% of cases and consisted of an exanthem with erythematous-edematous scaling plaques and papules. The rash worsened, mainly by spreading, in about one-third of cases. The skin lesions led to discontinuation of treatment in 2 patients (4.6%). Sustained viral response was achieved in 34 patients (79%). CONCLUSIONS: Telaprevir-induced eruptions are common and often progress, but they rarely require patients to discontinue treatment

Drug eruptions induced by telaprevir in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection: a prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: When co-administered with interferon and ribavirin, the prescription drug telaprevir significantly improves treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Its use, however, also increases the likelihood of adverse effects that may lead to discontinuation of treatment. Cutaneous adverse effects are particularly common. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of drug eruptions induced by telaprevir in patients receiving HCV treatment and to analyze the clinical course of lesions and response to treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study of all patients who started a treatment regimen that included telaprevir between May 2012 and July 2013. We recorded the demographic characteristics of the patients who developed telaprevir-induced eruptions, and analyzed the clinical characteristics of the lesions and their clinical course following the application of guideline-based treatment recommendations. RESULTS: Twenty (46%) of the 43 patients who received triple therapy with interferon, ribavirin, and telaprevir during the study period developed drug reactions attributable to telaprevir. The reaction was classified as mild or moderate (grades 1 or 2) in 90% of cases and consisted of an exanthem with erythematous-edematous scaling plaques and papules. The rash worsened, mainly by spreading, in about one-third of cases. The skin lesions led to discontinuation of treatment in 2 patients (4.6%). Sustained viral response was achieved in 34 patients (79%). CONCLUSIONS: Telaprevir-induced eruptions are common and often progress, but they rarely require patients to discontinue treatment.