Evidence-Based Guidelines of the Spanish Psoriasis Group on the Use of Biologic Therapy in Patients With Psoriasis in Difficult-to-Treat Sites (Nails, Scalp, Palms, and Soles)

Guselkumab in Patients with Scalp Psoriasis: A post hoc Analysis of the VOYAGE 2 Phase III Randomized Clinical Trial

Scalp psoriasis affects approximately 80% of patients with psoriasis and can negatively impact their quality of life. This post hoc analysis of the VOYAGE 2 Phase III randomized clinical trial evaluated scalp response to guselkumab treatment and its association with skin response and patient-reported outcomes. The study included patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and baseline scalp psoriasis who were initially randomized to receive guselkumab. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on their achievement of a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 90 response at week 28: responder continuation, non-responder continuation and responder withdrawal. In all 3 groups, mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index head and scalp-specific Investigator's Global Assessment scores improved through week 28. In the responder withdrawal group, these scores worsened after treatment withdrawal at week 28, but remained stable through week 48 in both continuation groups. Trends in Dermatology Life Quality Index and Psoriasis Symptoms and Signs Diary itch scores mirrored those of mean scalp-specific Investigator's Global Assessment scores through week 48. Within-subject correlations were 0.83 between scalp-specific Investigator's Global Assessment and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index head scores and 0.78 between scalp-specific Investigator's Global Assessment and Psoriasis Symptoms and Signs Diary itch scores. Through week 252, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index head scores remained stable in the responder continuation group, improved in the non-responder continuation group and rapidly improved by week 84 in the responder withdrawal group after retreatment.

Biologics recommendations for patients with psoriasis: a critical appraisal of clinical practice guidelines for psoriasis

PURPOSE

This review article serves to assess the consistency of recommendations from guidelines on biologic agents for psoriasis, based on the quality evaluation of psoriasis Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs).

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search to identify CPGs that provide recommendations on diagnosis and treatment for psoriasis. Four reviewers performed a quality assessment of the included CPGs with the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) Instrument.

RESULTS

A total of 51 sets of CPGs from 22 medical societies or separate working groups fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The overall quality of the eligible sets of guidelines was moderate to high, with an overall average score of 55%The highest domain scores were Score and Purpose (70%) and Clarity of Presentation (68%). A total of 95 biologic agent recommendations were extracted from the 18 recommended CPGs.Three biologic agents (Etanercept, Adalimumab, Ustekinumab) were recommended for pediatric patients. Three biologic agents (Adalimumab, Ustekinumab, Secukinumab) were recommended as first-line biologic agents for adults with psoriasis.

CONCLUSION

The overall methodological quality of CPGs for psoriasis is medium to high. More attention should be paid to applicability in guideline development. The recommendations and the basis for them among various sets guidelines were almost consistent.