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The British Journal of Dermatology May 2024Primary endpoint measures in clinical trials are typically measures of disease severity, with patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) relegated as secondary endpoints....
BACKGROUND
Primary endpoint measures in clinical trials are typically measures of disease severity, with patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) relegated as secondary endpoints. However validation of some PROMs may be more rigorous than that of disease severity measures, arguing for a primary role for PROMs.
OBJECTIVES
This study reports on 24 peer reviewed journal articles that used the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) as primary outcome, derived from a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) utlising DLQI covering all diseases and interventions.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
The study protocol was prospectively published on the PROSPERO database, and the study followed PRISMA guidelines. Searches were made with Medline, Cochrane library, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, CINAHL(EBSCO) and PsycINFO databases and records combined into an Endnote database. Records were filtered for duplicates and selected by study inclusion/exclusion criteria. Full text articles were sourced and data was extracted by two reviewers into a bespoke REDCap database, with a third reviewer adjudicating differences. The Jadad scoring method was used to determine risk of bias.
RESULTS
Of the 3,220 publications retrieved from online searching, 457 articles met eligibility criteria and included 198,587 patients. DLQI scores were primary outcomes in 24 (5.3%) of these studies comprising 15 different diseases and 3,436 patients. Most study interventions (17/24 studies, 68%) were systemic drugs with biologics (liraglutide, alefacept, secukinumab, ustekinumab, adalimumab) accounting for five out of 25 pharmacological interventions (20%). Topical treaments comprised 32% (8 studies) whereas non-pharmacological interventions (8) were 24% of the total interventions (33). Three studies used non-traditional medicines. Eight studies were multicentred (33.3%), with trials conducted in at least 14 different countries, and four (16.7%) were conducted in multiple countries. The Jadad risk of bias scale showed that bias was uncertain or low, as 87.5% of studies had Jadad scores of ≥3.
CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence for use of the DLQI as primary outcome in clinical trials to inform researchers' and clinicians' decisions for its further use.
PubMed: 38819233
DOI: 10.1093/bjd/ljae228 -
Skin Research and Technology : Official... Mar 2024The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and safety of oral and injectable systemic treatments, such as methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine,... (Review)
Review
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and safety of oral and injectable systemic treatments, such as methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine, tofacitinib, baricitinib, corticosteroids, statins, zinc, apremilast, etc., for treating vitiligo lesions.
METHOD
Databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were meticulously searched for studies spanning from 2010 to August 2023, focusing on systemic oral and injectable therapies for vitiligo, using comprehensive keywords and search syntaxes tailored to each database. Key data extracted included study design, treatment efficacy, patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, and safety profiles.
RESULTS
In a total of 42 included studies, oral mini-pulse corticosteroid therapy (OMP) was the subject of six studies (14.2%). Minocycline was the focus of five studies (11.9%), while methotrexate, apremilast, and tofacitinib each were examined in four studies (9.5%). Antioxidants and Afamelanotide were the subjects of three studies each (7.1%). Cyclosporine, simvastatin, oral zinc, oral corticosteroids (excluding OMP) and injections, and baricitinib were each explored in two studies (4.8%). Azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and Alefacept were the subjects of one study each (2.4%).
CONCLUSION
Systemic treatments for vitiligo have been successful in controlling lesions without notable side effects. OMP, Methotrexate, Azathioprine, Cyclosporine, Mycophenolate mofetil, Simvastatin, Apremilast, Minocycline, Afamelanotide, Tofacitinib, Baricitinib, Antioxidants, and oral/injectable corticosteroids are effective treatment methods. However, oral zinc and alefacept did not show effectiveness.
Topics: Humans; Methotrexate; Azathioprine; Vitiligo; Mycophenolic Acid; Minocycline; Alefacept; Cyclosporine; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Hypopigmentation; Simvastatin; Zinc; Purines; Pyrazoles; Sulfonamides; Azetidines; Thalidomide
PubMed: 38454597
DOI: 10.1111/srt.13642 -
Psoriasis (Auckland, N.Z.) 2022The quality of life in psoriatic patients is significantly impaired. Since this century, there have been biologics as a treatment for psoriasis. These biologics reduce... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The quality of life in psoriatic patients is significantly impaired. Since this century, there have been biologics as a treatment for psoriasis. These biologics reduce symptoms, but more knowledge is needed about potential improvements in quality of life. As a result, biological therapy may be more valuable for patients who experience a lot of burden from their chronic skin condition in daily life. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the possible improvement of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in psoriatic patients using biologics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An online search was performed in the PubMed database to identify relevant articles. Inclusion criteria for studies were psoriatic patients, a measurement of DLQI with biologics and without biologics. Exclusion criteria for studies were abstracts not written in English, publications before 2012, full text unavailable, quality of life measurements other than DLQI. Results from the studies with different biologics were combined into the outcome measure: ≥5 points of improvement in the DLQI score. Results of the studies in which biologics were compared with (conventional) systemic therapy were combined in the outcome measure: improvement of the DLQI score is better with biologics than with systemic therapy.
RESULTS
There were nine included articles with a total of 19.926 patients. Adalimumab, alefacept, etanercept, infliximab, ustekinumab and secukinumab were included biologics. Six studies measured the change in DLQI of different biologics in number of points. Of these six studies, 22 sub-analyses were performed and 20 of them showed a DLQI improvement of ≥5 points. The improvement in DLQI was better with biologics than with systemic therapy in two of the three measured studies.
CONCLUSION
Quality of life of psoriatic patients will be improved by the studied biologics. In the future, more research is needed into biologics on patient and quality of life characteristics.
PubMed: 35637943
DOI: 10.2147/PTT.S356568 -
Medicine Oct 2021Biological therapy is effective for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; however, adverse effects related to immunosuppression, such as viral infections,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Biological therapy is effective for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; however, adverse effects related to immunosuppression, such as viral infections, have been reported. Amongst these infections, herpes zoster (HZ) is common.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the risk of HZ in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients treated with biological therapy.
DATA SOURCES
A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was performed using certain keywords until October 9, 2020. Nine studies were included after a detailed assessment.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The eligibility criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies of patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis treated with biological therapies; compared with non-biological therapies, non-biological systemic therapies, or controls; with the incidence of HZ reported in case and control groups. The Cochrane risk of bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa scale were used to assess the quality of the RCTs and observational studies, respectively. Data were extracted from 9 eligible studies and then analyzed using Stata software (Version 12.0).
RESULTS
The risk of HZ in biological therapies was higher than that in non-biological (odds ratios [OR]: 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-1.86; I2 = 0%) and non-biological systemic (OR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.02-1.71; I2 = 0%) therapies. Furthermore, the risk of HZ associated with tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors increased significantly (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.11-2.02; I2 = 0%). Notably, infliximab (OR: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.31-4.50; I2 = 0%) and etanercept (OR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.07-2.56; I2 = 0%) increased the risk of HZ, while adalimumab (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 0.64-2.30; I2 = 0%), ustekinumab (OR: 2.20; 95% CI: 0.89-5.44; I2 = 0%), alefacept (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 0.20-10.47; I2 = 0%), and efalizumab (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 0.22-11.34; I2 = 0%) did not.
LIMITATIONS
Few RCTs have reported HZ incidents; thus, our results require confirmation via large-scale RCTs.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS
Biological therapies, especially tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, may lead to the risk of HZ in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients. Amongst these agents, infliximab and etanercept have been shown to significantly increase the risk of HZ. Additionally, younger age and female sex may be risk factors.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER
INPLASY202110027.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Antirheumatic Agents; Arthritis, Psoriatic; Biological Factors; Female; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Observational Studies as Topic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 34622837
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000027368 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2021Herpes zoster (HZ) has raised public concern. An increasing incidence of HZ can be seen in the immunocompromised population, such as the psoriasis patients taking...
Herpes zoster (HZ) has raised public concern. An increasing incidence of HZ can be seen in the immunocompromised population, such as the psoriasis patients taking biologics. Real-world evidences are still needed to investigate the risks of HZ among patients receiving different biologics treatments. This study aims to summarize the findings from cohort studies. Herein, we performed a meta-analysis of cohort studies. We included studies referred to seven biologics (adalimumab, alefacept, efalizumab, etanercept, infliximab, rituximab, and ustekinumab) as well as methotrexate for psoriasis. We estimated summary relative risks (RRs) for HZ using pairwise and network meta-analysis. Overall, five studies were included for analysis. A total of 32827.6 patient-years were observed. The result of the meta-analysis showed that the pooled HZ incidence rate of adalimumab, which accounts for the most patient-years in our analysis, is 2.6 per 1,000 patient-years. Our analysis based on several cohorts showed an insignificant difference among the patients receiving adalimumab, alefacept, efalizumab, etanercept, infliximab, rituximab, ustekinumab, and methotrexate. Based on this analysis, the type of mono-biologic treatment contributes little to the risk of HZ among psoriasis patients. Of note, the negative findings of our study do not mean the unnecessity of vaccination. More efforts must be taken to further determine HZ risk of different therapeutic strategies.
PubMed: 34150802
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.665559