Gottfried Wozel

The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index Is the Adequate Criterion to Define Severity in Chronic Plaque-Type Psoriasis

Background: Chronic plaque-type psoriasis is a major dermatosis, but a significant question is still unanswered: What defines severity in chronic plaque-type psoriasis? While objective assessments like the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) have frequently been used in clinical trials, quality of life (QOL) questionnaires are currently becoming more and more popular. Objective: This article summarizes the most important objective and subjective measurements of severity in psoriasis. For every dermatologist it is critically important to distinguish between severe psoriasis and psoriasis that severely affects QOL. Even if the PASI also has disadvantages, it is the most adequate instrument available to evaluate severity in plaque-type psoriasis. Result: We provide reasons why PASI >12 defines severe, PASI 7–12 moderate and PASI <7 mild chronic plaque-type psoriasis.

Pimecrolimus Cream in the Long-Term Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Six-Month Study

Background: Pimecrolimus cream (Elidel®, SDZ ASM 981), a non-steroid inhibitor of inflammatory cytokines, is effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). We assessed whether early treatment of AD signs/symptoms reduces the need for topical corticosteroids. Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of pimecrolimus cream 1% in the long-term management of adult AD. Methods: 192 adults with moderate to severe AD were randomised (1:1) for twice daily (b.i.d.) treatment of early signs or symptoms of AD with either pimecrolimus cream 1% or vehicle cream (control group) to prevent progression to flares. Treatment was given as needed for 24 weeks. In the event of flares, a moderately potent corticosteroid (prednicarbate 0.25% cream) was permitted as rescue medication in both groups. The percentage of days on which a topical corticosteroid was used to treat disease flares was the main outcome measure. Results: Corticosteroid medication was used on 14.2% (95% confidence interval, CI: 8.3–21.1) of the days of the 24-week treatment period in the pimecrolimus group and on 37.2% (95% CI: 30.4–44.0) of the days in the control group (p < 0.001). In total, 44.8% (43/96) of patients in the pimecrolimus group did not experience a flare compared with 18.8% (18/96) of patients in the control group. The median time to first flare was 144 days in the pimecrolimus group and 26 days in the control group (p < 0.001). Pimecrolimus treatment was also associated with improvement in signs and symptoms of AD, pruritus, patients’ self-assessment and quality of life. Conclusions: Pimecrolimus cream 1% b.i.d. is an effective, well-tolerated, long-term treatment for AD in adults, substantially reducing the number of flares compared to a conventional therapy and consequently reducing or eliminating the need for corticosteroid treatment.

Efficacy and tolerability of biologic and nonbiologic systemic treatments for moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis: meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background  The comparative efficacy and tolerability of conventional and biologic treatments for moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis are unknown.

Dapsone in dermatology and beyond

Dapsone (4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone) is an aniline derivative belonging to the group of synthetic sulfones. In 1937 against the background of sulfonamide era the microbial activity of dapsone has been discovered. Shortly thereafter, the use of dapsone to treat non-pathogen-caused diseases revealed alternate antiinflammatory mechanisms that initially were elucidated by inflammatory animal models. Thus, dapsone clearly has dual functions of both: antimicrobial/antiprotozoal effects and anti-inflammatory features similarly to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The latter capabilities primarily were used in treating chronic inflammatory disorders. Dapsone has been investigated predominantly by in vitro methods aiming to get more insights into the effect of dapsone to inflammatory effector cells, cytokines, and/or mediators, such as cellular toxic oxygen metabolism, myoloperoxidase-/halogenid system, adhesion molecules, chemotaxis, membrane-associated phospholipids, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor α, lymphocyte functions, and tumor growth. Moreover, attention has been paid to mechanisms by which dapsone mediates effects in more complex settings like impact of lifespan, stroke, glioblastoma, or as anticonvulsive agent. Additionally, there are some dermatological investigations in human being using dapsone and its metabolites (e.g., leukotriene B4-induced chemotaxis, ultraviolet-induced erythema). It could be established that dapsone metabolites by their own have anti-inflammatory properties. Pharmacology and mechanisms of action are determining factors for clinical use of dapsone chiefly in neutrophilic and/or eosinophilic dermatoses and in chronic disorders outside the field of dermatology. The steroid-sparing effect of dapsone is useful for numerous clinical entities. Future avenues of investigations will provide more information on this fascinating and essential agent.

Efficacy results of a 52-week, randomised, double-blind, safety study of a calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate two-compound product (Daivobet/Dovobet/Taclonex) in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.

Background: The calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate two-compound product is safe and effective in the short-term treatment of psoriasis. Objective: The primary objective was to investigate the safety of two treatment regimens involving use of the two-compound product over 52 weeks. The efficacy results are presented here. Methods: Six hundred and thirty-four patients were randomised double-blind to treatment (once daily, when required) with either: 52 weeks of two-compound product (two-compound group), 52 weeks of alternating 4-week periods of two-compound product and calcipotriol (alternating group), or 4 weeks of two-compound product followed by 48 weeks of calcipotriol (calcipotriol group). Results: There was a trend towards a difference between treatments from the overall treatment effect for the percentage of satisfactory responses for each patient during the study (p = 0.071). This appeared to be due to the comparison of the two-compound and calcipotriol groups (p = 0.025). Conclusion: There was a trend towards the efficacy of the two-compound product used for up to 52 weeks being better than that of 4 weeks of the two-compound product followed by 48 weeks of calcipotriol.

Scalp psoriasis: a review of current topical treatment options

The scalp is the most common site of disease involvement at the onset and throughout the course of psoriasis. For many patients, psoriasis of the scalp is the most difficult aspect of their disease; yet, despite a wide range of therapy options and an extensive literature base, scalp psoriasis remains difficult to treat, highlighting a long‐standing unmet need for the effective treatment of scalp psoriasis. A review of past and current medical literature reveals that a number of interesting therapeutic approaches have been used in the treatment of scalp psoriasis. The diverse and sometimes extreme therapeutic approaches, the marginal benefit of many topical agents, the paucity of controlled studies evaluating the efficacy of topical agents in the treatment of scalp psoriasis and the high level of patient dissatisfaction with currently available treatments for psoriasis all support the need for new, effective and well‐tolerated treatment options for scalp psoriasis.

Hypersensitivity Reactions to Dapsone: A Systematic Review

Dapsone is widely used in the treatment of leprosy and several chronic inflammatory dermatological conditions. Hypersensitivity reactions to dapsone are potentially fatal adverse drug reactions with unknown prevalence and risk factors. We performed a systematic review covering all reported cases of hypersensitivity reactions, in order to systematically summarize the published evidence on prevalence, clinical course and fatality rate. Articles were identified through standardized search strategies. Included studies were reviewed for hypersensitivity characteristics and odds ratios were calculated in univariate and multivariate regression models to assess the risk factors for fatal outcome. A total of 114 articles (17 epidemiological studies, 97 case reports) totalling 336 patients with hypersensitivity reactions were included for analysis. From the epidemiological studies a total hypersensitivity reaction prevalence rate of 1.4% (95% confidence interval 1.2–1.7%) was determined. Mucosal involvement, hepatitis, higher age and disease occurrence in non-affluent countries were associated with higher risk of fatal outcome. Overall, the fatality rate was 9.9%.

German psoriasis registry PsoBest: objectives, methodology and baseline data.

The German psoriasis registry PsoBest records the long‐term efficacy, safety, patient benefit and treatment regimens of psoriasis.

Disease progression in systemic sclerosis-overlap syndrome is significantly different from limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc)-overlap syndromes are a very heterogeneous and remarkable subgroup of SSc-patients, who present at least two connective tissue diseases (CTD) at the same time, usually with a specific autoantibody status. Objectives To determine whether patients, classified as overlap syndromes, show a disease course different from patients with limited SSc (lcSSc) or diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc). Methods The data of 3240 prospectively included patients, registered in the database of the German Network for Systemic Scleroderma and followed between 2003 and 2013, were analysed. Results Among 3240 registered patients, 10% were diagnosed as SSc-overlap syndrome. Of these, 82.5% were female. SSc-overlap patients had a mean age of 48±1.2 years and carried significantly more often ‘other antibodies’ (68.0%; p<0.0001), including anti-U1RNP, -PmScl, -Ro, -La, as well as anti-Jo-1 and -Ku antibodies. These patients developed musculoskeletal involvement earlier and more frequently (62.5%) than patients diagnosed as lcSSc (32.2%) or dcSSc (43.3%) (p<0.0001). The onset of lung fibrosis and heart involvement in SSc-overlap patients was significantly earlier than in patients with lcSSc and occurred later than in patients with dcSSc. Oesophagus, kidney and PH progression was similar to lcSSc patients, whereas dcSSc patients had a significantly earlier onset. Conclusions These data support the concept that SSc-overlap syndromes should be regarded as a separate SSc subset, distinct from lcSSc and dcSSc, due to a different progression of the disease, different proportional distribution of specific autoantibodies, and of different organ involvement.

Leflunomide as a novel treatment option in severe atopic dermatitis

Background  Based on the increasing knowledge of T‐cell‐mediated pathogenesis in atopic dermatitis (AD), systemic immunosuppressive drugs are increasingly applied. The chronic, relapsing course of severe AD necessitates a drug, both efficacious and safe in long‐term application. Leflunomide is a pyrimidine de novo synthesis‐inhibiting immunosuppressant exhibiting an extremely long in vivo half life of its active metabolite.