Chronic skin disease and levels of physical activity in 17 777 Spanish adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To date there is limited literature on the prevalence of chronic skin conditions and its association with levels of physical activity (PA) in Spain. AIM: To determine the prevalence of chronic skin disease and to compare levels of PA between people with and without chronic skin disease in a large representative sample of Spanish adults aged 15-69 years. METHODS: Data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2017 were analysed. Chronic skin disease was assessed using a yes/no question. PA was measured using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Total PA metabolic equivalent of task min/week were calculated, and PA was included in the analyses as a continuous and a five-category variable. RESULTS: This cross-sectional study included 17 777 adult participants (52.0% women; mean ± SD age 45.8 ± 14.1 years), of whom 940 (5.3%) had chronic skin disease. After adjusting for several potential confounders, there was a negative association between chronic skin disease and PA (OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.76-1.00, P = 0.05), which was significant for men (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.62-0.93, P = 0.01) but not for women (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.81-1.16, P = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: In this large representative sample of Spanish adults, the prevalence of chronic skin disease was low. Levels of PA were lower in men with than in men without chronic skin conditions, but this association was not seen in women.

Three-year efficacy and safety of certolizumab pegol for the treatment of plaque psoriasis: results from the randomized phase 3 CIMPACT trial.

BACKGROUND: Certolizumab pegol (CZP) is an Fc-free, PEGylated anti-tumor necrosis factor biologic. OBJECTIVES: To report 3-year outcomes from the CIMPACT (NCT02346240) phase 3, CZP in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Adults were randomized 3:3:3:1 to CZP 200 mg every other week (Q2W), CZP 400 mg Q2W, etanercept biweekly or placebo. At Week 16, CZP- and etanercept-treated PASI 75 responders were re-randomized to CZP 200 mg Q2W, CZP 400 mg Q4W, CZP 400 mg Q2W or placebo for maintenance treatment; PASI 75 non-responders entered an open-label escape CZP 400 mg Q2W arm. Patients entering the open-label extension (OLE; Weeks 48-144) from blinded treatment received CZP 200 mg Q2W. RESULTS: Double-blinded results have been reported previously. 261 patients received 200 mg Q2W upon OLE entry. PASI 75 response was maintained in patients continuing 200 mg Q2W treatment through Weeks 16-144 (Week 144: 96.2%). In patients dosed down at Week 48 (double-blinded 400 mg to 200 mg Q2W), PASI 75 decreased (Week 48: 98.7%; Week 144: 85.9%). In patients who received placebo through Weeks 16-48, PASI 75 response decreased (Week 48: 60.4%), then increased following Week 48 switch to 200 mg Q2W (Week 144: 95.1%). 48 and 36 patients initially randomized to 200 and 400 mg Q2W, respectively, were Week 16 PASI 75 non-responders and entered the escape arm; at Week 144, 71.8% and 78.2% achieved PASI 75. No new safety signals were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Response to CZP was durable over three years; no new safety signals were identified.

Systematic review of the efficacies and adverse effects of treatments for pityriasis lichenoides.

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis lichenoides (PL) is a papulosquamous dermatosis affecting both children and adults, for which no standard treatment currently exists. OBJECTIVES: To characterize different treatment options and develop an evidence-based treatment algorithm for PL. METHODS: A systematic search of published literature on PL treatments was performed on 23 December 2017 via the MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov and the EU Clinical Trials Register databases. RESULTS: Of 1090 abstracts retrieved, 27 full-text articles with 502 participants were included for analysis. Seventeen of the full-text articles were retrospective cohort studies and two were randomized controlled studies. Treatment modalities included in these articles were phototherapy, antibiotics, methotrexate, pyrimethamine and trisulfapyrimidine, corticosteroids and conservative treatment. Of these treatments, phototherapy led to complete remission in the highest proportion of patients, and topical corticosteroids were found to have been trialled in the highest number of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The current literature consists almost entirely of uncontrolled studies, and none provides compelling data to support an evidence-based approach to PL treatment. Pityriasis lichenoides chronica and pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta should be distinguished in response to treatment, and definitions of response to treatment must be standardized. Additional randomized control studies with longer follow-up will help better differentiate between treatment efficacies and adverse effects.

Monotherapy for toenail onychomycosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail caused by dermatophytes, yeasts and nondermatophyte moulds that accounts for approximately 50% of all nail-related disease. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of monotherapy and combination treatments for toenail onychomycosis using a network meta-analysis (NMA). METHODS: Quality of evidence was assessed using Cochrane-compliant rules and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Efficacy and safety outcomes were compared using a random-effects NMA to estimate pooled odds ratios (ORs) of direct and indirect comparisons among oral and topical treatments (PROSPERO 2015: CRD42018086912). There were not enough eligible combination and device-based therapy trials to include in the NMA. RESULTS: Of 77 randomized controlled trials, 26 were included in the ORs (8136 patients). There were no significant inconsistencies between the direct and indirect evidence. Relative effects show that the odds of mycological cure with continuous terbinafine 250 mg or continuous itraconazole 200 mg are significantly greater than topical treatments. Fluconazole, pulse regimens of terbinafine and itraconazole, and topical treatments did not differ significantly in the odds of achieving mycological cure. The ORs of adverse events occurring with oral or topical treatments were not significantly different from each other. For mycological cure, evidence was of moderate or high quality while evidence ranged from very low to high quality for adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Our review suggests that oral and topical treatments for toenail onychomycosis are safe and effective in producing mycological cure. What's already known about this topic? Topical treatments traditionally have lower success rates than oral treatments. Oral treatments have the advantage of shorter treatment durations, but also present challenges in cases of drug-drug interactions or immunosuppression. A network meta-analysis (NMA) gathers data from indirect evidence to gain confidence about all treatment comparisons and allows for estimation of comparative effects that have not been investigated in head-to-head randomized clinical trials (RCTs). What does this study add? This NMA of efficacy and safety includes all RCTs of oral, topical, combination and device-based treatments for toenail onychomycosis, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement for NMA. The odds of achieving mycological cure with continuous terbinafine 250 mg or continuous itraconazole 200 mg were significantly greater than topical treatments. Fluconazole, pulse regimens of terbinafine and itraconazole, and topical treatments did not differ significantly in the odds of achieving mycological cure.

The efficacy and safety of pulse vs. continuous therapy for dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis.

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is a chronic, fungal infection of the nails. Complete cure remains challenging, but oral antifungal medications have been successful in managing the fungus for a significant proportion of patients. Treatment with these drugs can be continuous or intermittent, albeit the evidence on their relative efficacies remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative effectiveness and safety of pulse versus continuous administration, of three common oral therapies for dermatophyte onychomycosis, by conducting multiple-treatment meta-analysis. METHODS: This systematic review and network meta-analysis compared the efficacy (as per mycological cure) and adverse event rates of three oral antifungal medications in the treatment of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis, namely terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole. A total of 30 studies were included in the systematic review, while 22 were included in the network meta-analysis. RESULTS: The likelihood of mycological cure was not significantly different between continuous and pulse regimens for each of terbinafine and itraconazole. Use of continuous terbinafine for 24 weeks - but not 12 weeks - was significantly more likely to result in mycological cure than continuous itraconazole for 12 weeks or weekly fluconazole for 9-12 months. Rank probabilities demonstrated that 24-week continuous treatment of terbinafine was the most effective. There were no significant differences in the likelihood of adverse events between any continuous and pulse regimens of terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole. Drug treatments were similar to placebo in terms of their likelihood of producing adverse events. CONCLUSION: More knowledge about the fungal life cycle and drugs' pharmacokinetics in nail and plasma could further explain the relative efficacy and safety of the pulse and continuous treatment regimens. Our results indicate that in the treatment of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis, the continuous and pulse regimens for terbinafine and itraconazole have similar efficacies and rates of adverse events.

Onychomycosis: a review.

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail, causing discoloration and thickening of the affected nail plate, and is the most common nail infection worldwide. Onychomycosis was initially thought to be predominantly caused by dermatophytes; however, new research has revealed that mixed infections and those caused by non-dermatophyte moulds (NDMs) are more prevalent than previously thought, especially in warmer climates. Microscopy and fungal culture are the gold standard techniques for onychomycosis diagnosis, but high false-negative rates have pushed for more accurate methods, such as histology and PCR. As NDMs are skin and laboratory contaminants, their presence as an infectious agent requires multiple confirmations and repeated sampling. There are several treatment options available, including oral antifungals, topicals and devices. Oral antifungals have higher cure rates and shorter treatment periods than topical treatments, but have adverse side effects such as hepatotoxicity and drug interactions. Terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole are most commonly used, with new oral antifungals such as fosravuconazole being evaluated. Topical treatments, such as efinaconazole, tavaborole, ciclopirox and amorolfine have less serious side effects, but also have generally lower cure rates and much longer treatment regimens. New topical formulations are being investigated as faster-acting alternatives to the currently available topical treatments. Devices such as lasers have shown promise in improving the cosmetic appearance of the nail, but due to a high variation of study methods and definitions of cure, their effectiveness for onychomycosis has yet to be sufficiently proven. Recurrence rates for onychomycosis are high; once infected, patients should seek medical treatment as soon as possible and sanitize their shoes and socks. Prophylactic application of topicals and avoiding walking barefoot in public places may help prevent recurrence.

Levels of wound calprotectin and other inflammatory biomarkers aid in deciding which patients with a diabetic foot ulcer need antibiotic therapy (INDUCE study).

AIMS: Deciding if a diabetic foot ulcer is infected in a community setting is challenging without validated point-of-care tests. Four inflammatory biomarkers were investigated to develop a composite algorithm for mildly infected diabetic foot ulcers: venous white cell count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin, and a novel wound exudate calprotectin assay. Calprotectin is a marker of neutrophilic inflammation. METHODS: In a prospective study, people with uninfected or mildly infected diabetic foot ulcers who had not received oral antibiotics in the preceding 2 weeks were recruited from community podiatry clinics for measurement of inflammatory biomarkers. Antibiotic prescribing decisions were based on clinicians' baseline assessments and participants were reviewed 1 week later; ulcer infection was defined by clinicians' overall impression from their two assessments. RESULTS: Some 363 potential participants were screened, of whom 67 were recruited, 29 with mildly infected diabetic foot ulcers and 38 with no infection. One participant withdrew early in each group. Ulcer area was 1.32 cm2 [interquartile range (IQR) 0.32-3.61 cm2 ] in infected ulcers and 0.22 cm2 (IQR 0.09-1.46 cm2 ) in uninfected ulcers. Baseline CRP for mild infection was 9.00 mg/ml and 6.00 mg/ml for uninfected ulcers; most procalcitonin levels were undetectable. Median calprotectin level in infected diabetic foot ulcers was 1437 ng/ml and 879 ng/ml in uninfected diabetic foot ulcers. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for a composite algorithm incorporating calprotectin, CRP, white cell count and ulcer area was 0.68 (95% confidence intervals 0.52-0.82), sensitivity 0.64, specificity 0.81. CONCLUSIONS: A composite algorithm including CRP, calprotectin, white cell count and ulcer area may help to distinguish uninfected from mildly infected diabetic foot ulcers. Venous procalcitonin is unhelpful for mild diabetic foot ulcer infection.

The pathogenesis of dermatomyositis.

This review looks at the many different factors thought to play a role in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), concentrating mainly on the dermatomyositis (DM) subtype. Subject areas addressed include looking at the different clinical features of IIM, paying particular attention to the skin manifestations. There is a discussion around investigations needed with their perceived value, followed by a description of the immunohistochemical findings of DM. This review goes on to address other attributing factors such as genetic associations with the different subtypes of IIM, and environmental factors including infections, ultraviolet radiation and vitamin D deficiency and drugs. Finally, the potential immunopathogenesis of DM is summarized, looking at T cells, B cells, autoantibodies, dendritic cells, cytokines and nonimmune-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Treatment of clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis in adults: a systematic review.

Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) affects a subset of 5-20% of patients with dermatomyositis and is defined as the presence of cutaneous features of dermatomyositis without clinical muscle weakness for ≥ 6 months. There is no consensus on first-line treatment for CADM and whether treatment should differ from treatment of classic dermatomyositis with muscle weakness. We carried out a systematic review of published literature about treatment of adult patients with CADM, via the Embase, Medline, CINAHL and ClinicalTrials.gov databases on 17 February 2015. The aim was to establish which treatments have been used for adult-onset CADM and what evidence is available regarding the efficacy of these treatments including topical treatments, dapsone, antimalarials, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), nonsteroidal oral immunosuppressants and biological therapies. Eighteen cases series and 42 case reports were found. These provided data on 153 adult patients who met the inclusion criteria. No randomized controlled trials or robust observational studies were found. The majority of patients (60%) had tried more than one treatment due to side-effects or lack of efficacy. Antimalarial agents were the most commonly used treatment type. In the majority of patients (55%), antimalarial treatments were discontinued due to lack of improvement or inability to wean concomitant steroids. IVIG was the treatment that led to improvement or remission in the greatest proportion of patients. Further robust, high-quality studies are needed to assess treatment efficacy in CADM without bias.

Population-based Clinical Practice Research Datalink study using algorithm modelling to identify the true burden of hidradenitis suppurativa.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiology data regarding hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are conflicting and prevalence estimates vary 80-fold, from 0·05% in a population-based study to 4%. OBJECTIVES: To assess the hypothesis that previous population-based studies underestimated true HS prevalence by missing undiagnosed cases. METHODS: We performed a population-based observational and case-control study using the U.K. Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) linked to hospital episode statistics data. Physician-diagnosed cases in the CPRD were identified from specific Read codes. Algorithms identified unrecognized 'proxy' cases, with at least five Read code records for boils in flexural skin sites. Validation of proxy cases was undertaken with general practitioner (GP) questionnaires to confirm criteria-diagnosed cases. A case-control study assessed disease associations. RESULTS: On 30 June 2013, 23 353 physician-diagnosed HS cases were documented in 4 364 308 research-standard records. In total, 68 890 proxy cases were identified, reduced to 10 146 criteria-diagnosed cases after validation, extrapolated from 107 completed questionnaires (61% return rate). Overall point prevalence was 0·77% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·76-0·78%]. An additional 18 417 cases had a history of one to four flexural skin boils. In physician-diagnosed cases, odds ratios (ORs) for current smoker and obesity (body mass index > 30 kg m-2 ) were 3·61 (95% CI 3·44-3·79) and 3·29 (95% CI 3·14-3·45). HS was associated with type 2 diabetes, Crohn disease, hyperlipidaemia, acne and depression, and not associated with ulcerative colitis or polycystic ovary syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to results of previous population-based studies, HS is relatively common, with a U.K. prevalence of 0·77%, one-third being unrecognized, criteria-diagnosed cases using the most stringent disease definition. If individuals with probable cases are included, HS prevalence rises to 1·19%.

Efficacy of non-surgical treatments for androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Androgenetic alopecia, or male/female pattern baldness, is the most common type of progressive hair loss disorder. The aim of this study was to review recent advances in non-surgical treatments for androgenetic alopecia and identify the most effective treatments. A network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted of the available literature of the six most common non-surgical treatment options for treating androgenetic alopecia in both men and women; dutasteride 0.5 mg, finasteride 1 mg, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), minoxidil 2%, minoxidil 5% and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Seventy-eight studies met the inclusion criteria, and 22 studies had the data necessary for a network meta-analysis. Relative effects show LLLT as the superior treatment. Relative effects show PRP, finasteride 1 mg (male), finasteride 1 mg (female), minoxidil 5%, minoxidil 2% and dutasteride (male) are approximately equivalent in mean change hair count following treatment. Minoxidil 5% and minoxidil 2% reported the most drug-related adverse events (n = 45 and n = 23, respectively). The quality of evidence of minoxidil 2% vs. minoxidil 5% was high; minoxidil 5% vs. placebo was moderate; dutasteride (male) vs. placebo, finasteride (female) vs. placebo, minoxidil 2% vs. placebo and minoxidil 5% vs. LLLT was low; and finasteride (male) vs. placebo, LLLT vs. sham, PRP vs. placebo and finasteride vs. minoxidil 2% was very low. Results of this NMA indicate the emergence of novel, non-hormonal therapies as effective treatments for hair loss; however, the quality of evidence is generally low. High-quality randomized controlled trials and head-to-head trials are required to support these findings and aid in the development of more standardized protocols, particularly for PRP. Regardless, this analysis may aid physicians in clinical decision-making and highlight the variety of non-surgical hair restoration options for patients.

Safety and efficacy of apremilast through 104 weeks in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who continued on apremilast or switched from etanercept treatment: findings from the LIBERATE study.

BACKGROUND: Apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of apremilast in biologic-naive patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and safety of switching from etanercept to apremilast in the phase 3b LIBERATE trial. METHODS: Two hundred fifty patients were randomized to placebo, apremilast 30 mg BID or etanercept 50 mg QW through Week 16; thereafter, all patients continued or switched to apremilast through Week 104 (extension phase). Skin, scalp and nail involvement at Weeks 16, 52 and 104 were assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI; 0-72), Scalp Physician Global Assessment (ScPGA; 0-5) and Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI; 0-8); patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI; 0-32) and pruritus visual analog scale (VAS; 0-100 mm). RESULTS: The apremilast-extension phase (Weeks 16-104) included 226 patients in the placebo/apremilast (n = 73), apremilast/apremilast (n = 74) and etanercept/apremilast (n = 79) groups, and at Week 104, 50.7%, 45.9% and 51.9% of these patients, respectively, maintained ≥75% reduction from baseline in PASI score (based on last-observation-carried-forward analysis). Across treatment groups, ScPGA 0 (clear) or 1 (minimal) was achieved by 50.0%-59.2% of patients; NAPSI mean change from baseline was -48.1% to -51.1%; DLQI score ≤5 was achieved by 66.0%-72.5% of patients; and pruritus VAS mean change from baseline was -24.4 to -32.3. AEs in ≥5% of patients (diarrhoea, nausea, nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection and headache) did not increase with prolonged apremilast exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Apremilast demonstrated significant and sustained improvements in skin, scalp, nails and PROs (pruritus and quality of life) over 104 weeks in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Safety was consistent with the known safety profile of apremilast.

Tinea capitis in children: a systematic review of management.

BACKGROUND: Tinea capitis is the most common cutaneous fungal infection in children. OBJECTIVES: This review aims to evaluate the differences that exist between medications for the treatment of tinea capitis, to determine whether there are any significant adverse effects associated and to define the usefulness of sample collection methods. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search of available papers using the databases PubMed, OVID, Cochrane Libraries and ClinicalTrials.gov. Twenty-one RCTs and 17 CTs were found. RESULTS: Among the different antifungal therapies (oral and combination thereof), continuous itraconazole and terbinafine had the highest mycological cure rates (79% and 81%, respectively), griseofulvin and terbinafine had the highest clinical cure rates (46% and 58%, respectively) and griseofulvin and terbinafine had the highest complete cure rate (72% and 92%, respectively). Griseofulvin more effectively treated Microsporum infections; terbinafine and itraconazole more effectively cured Trichophyton infections. Only 1.0% of children had to discontinue medication based on adverse events. T. tonsurans was the most common organism found in North America, and hairbrush collection method is the most efficient method of sample collection. Additionally, using a hairbrush, toothbrush or cotton swab to identify the infecting organism(s) is the least invasive and most efficient method of tinea capitis sample collection in children. CONCLUSIONS: Current dosing regimens of reported drugs are effective and safe for use in tinea capitis in children.

Comparison of the paper-based and electronic versions of the Dermatology Life Quality Index: evidence of equivalence.

BACKGROUND: The use of patient-reported outcome measures in electronic format has been increasing. However, these formats are usually not validated or compared with the original paper-based formats, so there is no evidence that they are completed in the same way. OBJECTIVES: To compare the conventional paper version with a web-based application (iPad® ) version of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) to assess equivalence of scores. METHODS: The study employed a randomized crossover design using a within-subjects comparison of the two formats of the questionnaire. International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) guidelines were followed. Participants aged over 18 years with any confirmed skin condition were recruited from a teaching hospital dermatology outpatient clinic. Expected intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0·9 (α = 0·05). RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were recruited, median age 53·5 years (interquartile range 37·3-67·8; 43% male). The ICC showed high concordance between the total DLQI scores from paper and iPad versions (ICC 0·98; 95% confidence interval 0·97-0·99). Patients took a median of 78 s to complete the electronic version and 73 s for paper (P = 0·008): 76% preferred the electronic version and perceived completion to take a shorter time. CONCLUSIONS: There is high concordance and thus equivalence between the iPad and paper versions of the DLQI, with an ICC of 0·98, and a clear patient preference for the iPad version.

A systematic review of the use of quality-of-life instruments in randomized controlled trials for psoriasis.

Planners of interventional studies in psoriasis face the dilemma of selecting suitable quality-of-life (QoL) measures. Systematic reviews have the potential of identifying psychometrically sound measures in a given therapeutic area, while guiding the development of practice guidelines. The aim of this systematic review was to generate evidence of the use of QoL instruments in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for interventions in psoriasis. The methodology followed the PRISMA guidelines. Six databases were searched with 388 search terms. Abstracts of articles were reviewed independently by two assessors, and a third adjudicator resolved any opinion differences. Risk of bias was assessed using the Jadad scale. Of 3646 screened publications, 99 articles (100 trials) met the eligibility criteria for inclusion, describing research on 33 215 patients. Thirty-three trials tested topical therapy, 18 systemic, 39 biologics, nine phototherapy and 10 other interventions. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was the most commonly used QoL instrument (83 studies, 83%), followed by the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) (31, 31%), EuroQoL-5D (EQ-5D) (15, 15%), Psoriasis Disability Index (14, 14%) and Skindex (five, 5%). There was widespread inconsistency in the way that QoL data were reported. Of the 100 trials identified, 37 reported minimal clinically important difference (MCID): 32 for DLQI, 10 for SF-36 and six for EQ-5D. QoL measurement is increasingly being reported in RCTs of psoriasis. Formal guidelines are needed for assessment and publishing of QoL data. Researchers should consider whether MCID information is available, and development of MCID data should be encouraged.

The efficacy and safety of apremilast, etanercept and placebo in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: 52-week results from a phase IIIb, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (LIBERATE).

BACKGROUND: Apremilast, an oral, small-molecule phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate efficacy and safety of apremilast vs. placebo in biologic-naive patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and safety of switching from etanercept to apremilast in a phase IIIb, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (NCT01690299). METHODS: Two hundred and fifty patients were randomized to placebo (n = 84), apremilast 30 mg BID (n = 83) or etanercept 50 mg QW (n = 83) through Week 16; thereafter, all patients continued or switched to apremilast through Week 104. The primary efficacy endpoint was achievement of PASI-75 at Week 16 with apremilast vs. placebo. Secondary endpoints included achievement of PASI-75 at Week 16 with etanercept vs. placebo and improvements in other clinical endpoints vs. placebo at Week 16. Outcomes were assessed through Week 52. This study was not designed for apremilast vs. etanercept comparisons. RESULTS: At Week 16, PASI-75 achievement was greater with apremilast (39.8%) vs. placebo (11.9%; P < 0.0001); 48.2% of patients achieved PASI-75 with etanercept (P < 0.0001 vs. placebo). PASI-75 response was maintained in 47.3% (apremilast/apremilast), 49.4% (etanercept/apremilast) and 47.9% (placebo/apremilast) of patients at Week 52. Most common adverse events (≥5%) with apremilast, including nausea, diarrhoea, upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, tension headache and headache, were mild or moderate in severity; diarrhoea and nausea generally resolved in the first month. No new safety or tolerability issues were observed through Week 52 with apremilast. CONCLUSION: Apremilast demonstrated significant efficacy vs. placebo at Week 16 in biologic-naive patients with psoriasis, which was sustained over 52 weeks, and demonstrated safety consistent with the known safety profile of apremilast. Switching from etanercept to apremilast did not result in any new or clinically significant safety findings, and efficacy was maintained with apremilast through Week 52.