The real world impact of adalimumab on quality of life and the physical and psychological effects of moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a UK prospective, multicenter, observational study

Efficacy and safety of drugs for psoriasis patients with mental disorders: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The emergence of biological agents and small molecule drugs has revolutionized the treatment landscape for psoriasis, yet there remains a lack of systematic reviews elucidating the efficacy and safety of drugs for patients with psoriasis and mental disorders (MDs). The aim was to systemically evaluate the efficacy and safety of FDA-approved psoriasis drugs on MD symptoms and MD drugs on psoriasis symptoms.

METHODS

We conducted comprehensive literature searches of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to March 24, 2024, identifying 116 relevant studies for inclusion.

RESULTS

Our review encompasses 62 clinical trials and 54 case reports/series. Analyses of clinical trials revealed a positive impact of psoriasis drugs on MD, with notable exceptions including lithium and benzodiazepine receptor agonists, which exhibited adverse effects on psoriasis. Furthermore, analysis of case reports/series highlighted the efficacy of drugs such as apremilast, etanercept, infliximab, and secukinumab in ameliorating MD symptoms, contrasting with detrimental effects observed with methotrexate (MTX), cyclosporine, adalimumab, and secukinumab. Notably, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors and interleukin inhibitors demonstrated superior efficacy compared to conventional treatments. In the anxiety group, secukinumab showed the largest effective size as assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Anxiety (HADS-A) index; In the depression group, ixekizumab showed the largest effective size assessed by the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomology - Self-Report (QIDS-SR16) index.

LIMITATIONS

The extracted data cannot be meta-analyzed, as the measurement scale is not uniform.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review provides robust evidence regarding treatment options for individuals with psoriasis and MD, emphasizing the potential benefits of specific drugs in managing both conditions concurrently.

Certolizumab Pegol for the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis in Routine Clinical Practice: One-Year Results from the CIMREAL Study

INTRODUCTION

Certolizumab pegol (CZP) is an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PSO). However, data on its real-world use is currently limited. The objective of this study was to describe the 1-year real-world effectiveness of CZP, its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and safety outcomes in patients with moderate to severe PSO in multi-country settings.

METHODS

CIMREAL, a prospective, noninterventional study, was conducted across Europe and Canada from August 2019 to December 2022. Patients were followed for 1-year, receiving CZP 400 mg initial doses at weeks 0, 2, and 4, followed by CZP 200 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W) or CZP 400 mg Q2W maintenance dosing. Effectiveness was assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Safety was also evaluated.

RESULTS

Overall, 399 patients with moderate to severe PSO were included. Of these, 93.7% (374/399) and 77.9% (311/399) completed months 3 and 12, respectively. Mean age (± standard deviation) was 42.9 ± 13.5 years and body mass index was 28.5 ± 6.8 kg/m2, with the majority of patients being female (68.2%). At 12 months, CZP showed substantial effectiveness, achieving PASI 75 and PASI 90 response rates (≥ 75% and ≥ 90% improvement from baseline, respectively) of 77% and 56.5%, respectively. Patients with PASI score of ≤ 3 and ≤ 2 experienced improvement from 3 months (49.8% and 41.1%, respectively) to 12 months (82.0% and 75.3%, respectively). HRQoL considerably improved, with mean DLQI scores decreasing from 12.4 to 2.3 after 12 months of treatment, and the proportion of patients with DLQI 0/1 increased from 28.6% at 3 months to 59.4% at 12 months. The 1-year probability of persistence was approximately 85%. Overall, 30.6% of the patients experienced any adverse events and 9.3% had serious adverse events.

CONCLUSION

In routine clinical practice, CZP exhibited consistent effectiveness, positively impacting both skin psoriasis activity and HRQoL. The 1-year persistence of CZP was high, and no new safety signals were identified.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04053881 https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov/study/NCT04053881 .

A Case of Psoriatic Disease and Hidradenitis Suppurativa in a Child with Chromosome 17q21.31 Microduplication Syndrome

Psoriatic disease is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder, characterized mostly by cutaneous erythematous scaly plaques sometimes associated with arthritis. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease of the apocrine glands, characterized clinically by painful abscesses, sinus tracts and scars. It typically occurs after puberty, affecting mainly intertriginous areas of the body. There is a strong association between HS and psoriasis since they share the same pathogenic inflammatory pathway. The patient presented: low birthweight, microcephaly, facial dysmorphisms, lumbar hyperlordosis, walking difficulties, global psychomotor developmental delay and learning disabilities. A genetic evaluation revealed a 2.5 Mb de novo microduplication in the 17q21.31 chromosomal region. Dermatological examination revealed HS (Hurley stage II-HS) distributed in the genital area and inguinal folds, psoriatic plaques on the retroauricolar folds, on the elbows bilaterally and on the lateral aspect of the right ankle and psoriatic arthritis. The patient was treated with adalimumab, with a marked improvement of both conditions. To our best knowledge, we report the first case of coexisting Psoriatic Arthritis Disease and Hidradenitis Suppurativa in a child with chromosome 17q21.31 microduplication syndrome. We hypothesize that gene CRHR1 duplication included in the 17q21.31 chromosomal region might be involved in the pathogenesis of both diseases.

Effectiveness of Long-Term Treatment with Brodalumab on Anxiety or Depressive Symptoms in Japanese Patients with Psoriasis: The ProLOGUE Study

INTRODUCTION

Evidence on treatment effectiveness in patients with psoriasis having anxiety or depressive symptoms helps shared decision-making. This single-arm, open-label, prospective study-ProLOGUE-was conducted to assess the effectiveness of brodalumab on self-assessed anxiety and depressive symptoms in Japanese patients with psoriasis.

METHODS

Patients aged ≥ 18 years with plaque psoriasis without peripheral arthritis symptoms who had responded inadequately to current therapies were enrolled at 15 Japanese facilities and received brodalumab 210 mg subcutaneously.

RESULTS

A total of 73 patients were enrolled (male, 82%; median age, 54 years). The proportion of patients without anxiety symptoms changed significantly from baseline (72.6%) to weeks 12 (88.9%, p = 0.008) and 48 (87.7%, p = 0.02); the proportion of patients without depressive symptoms did not change significantly. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score (median [quartile(Q)1-Q3], 1.0 [0.0-5.0] at baseline; 0.0 [0.0-2.0] at week 12, p = 0.008; and 0.0 [0.0-1.0] at week 48, p = 0.007) and Patient Health Questionnaire-8 score (median [Q1-Q3], 2.0 [0.0-4.0] at baseline; 1.0 [0.0-4.0] at week 12, p = 0.03; and 0.0 [0.0-2.0] at week 48, p = 0.004) significantly decreased after treatment. The median Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores after treatment were < 1, irrespective of the presence of baseline anxiety or depressive symptoms. At week 12, the health-related quality of life was more impaired in patients with versus without baseline depressive symptoms, which largely resolved at week 48.

CONCLUSIONS

Brodalumab treatment resulted in the reduction of the levels of self-assessed anxiety and depressive symptoms in Japanese patients with psoriasis. Unlike anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms did not resolve completely with brodalumab treatment. Patients with psoriasis having depressive symptoms may require long-term treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry identifier: UMIN000027783, Japan Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: jRCTs031180037.

Targeting Underlying Inflammation in Carcinoma Is Essential for the Resolution of Depressiveness

In modern clinical practice and research on behavioral changes in patients with oncological problems, there are several one-sided approaches to these problems. Strategies for early detection of behavioral changes are considered, but they must take into account the specifics of the localization and phase in the course and treatment of somatic oncological disease. Behavioral changes, in particular, may correlate with systemic proinflammatory changes. In the up-to-date literature, there are a lot of useful pointers on the relationship between carcinoma and inflammation and between depression and inflammation. This review is intended to provide an overview of these similar underlying inflammatory disturbances in both oncological disease and depression. The specificities of acute and chronic inflammation are considered as a basis for causal current and future therapies. Modern therapeutic oncology protocols may also cause transient behavioral changes, so assessment of the quality, quantity, and duration of behavioral symptoms is necessary to prescribe adequate therapy. Conversely, antidepressant properties could be used to ameliorate inflammation. We will attempt to provide some impetus and present some unconventional potential treatment targets related to inflammation. It is certain that only an integrative oncology approach is justifiable in modern patient treatment.

Real-World Outcomes of Adalimumab Treatment for Moderate and Severe Psoriasis in Korean Patients (RAPSODI Study)

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis imposes a significant treatment burden on patients, particularly impacting well-being and quality of life (QoL). The psychosocial impact of psoriasis treatments remains unexplored in most patient populations.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of adalimumab on health-related QoL (HRQoL) in Korean patients with psoriasis.

METHODS

This 24-week, multicenter, observational study, assessed HRQoL in Korean patients treated with adalimumab in a real-world setting. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) including European Quality of Life-5 Dimension scale (EQ-5D), EQ-5D VAS, SF-36, and DLQI were evaluated at week 16 and 24, versus baseline. Patient satisfaction was assessed using TSQM.

RESULTS

Among 97 enrolled patients, 77 were assessed for treatment effectiveness. Most patients were male (52, 67.5%) and mean age was 45.4 years. Median baseline body surface area and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores were 15.00 (range 4.00~80.00) and 12.40 (range 2.70~39.40), respectively. Statistically significant improvements in all PROs were observed between baseline and week 24. Mean EQ-5D score improved from 0.88 (standard deviation [SD], 0.14) at baseline to 0.91 (SD, 0.17) at week 24 (p=0.0067). The number of patients with changes in PASI 75, 90, or 100 from baseline to week 16 and 24 were 65 (84.4%), 17 (22.1%), and 1 (1.3%); and 64 (83.1%), 21 (27.3%), and 2 (2.6%), respectively. Overall treatment satisfaction was reported, including effectiveness and convenience. No unexpected safety findings were noted.

CONCLUSION

Adalimumab improved QoL and was well-tolerated in Korean patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, as demonstrated in a real-world setting. Clinical trial registration number (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03099083).

Evidence for Anti-inflammatory Effects of Adalimumab in Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Pilot, Randomized, Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Literature has suggested that major depressive disorder (MDD) is accompanied by higher concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers, which could sabotage response to conventional treatments.

AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab adjunct to sertraline in adults with MDD and increased levels of systemic inflammation.

METHODS

In a 6-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 36 patients with MDD and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥3 mg/L were equally assigned to receive sertraline plus either adalimumab or placebo. Participants were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) at baseline, week 3, and week 6. Moreover, serum concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers were measured at baseline and trial end point. Finally, patients were assessed for any adverse event during the trial.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients in each group completed the trial course. All baseline characteristics of participants were similar between the groups. Adalimumab adjunct to sertraline resulted in a greater improvement in HAM-D score compared with placebo over the trial period ( P < 0.001). Participants receiving adalimumab significantly experienced greater response to treatment (≥50% reduction in the HAM-D score) than those receiving placebo ( P = 0.042). Furthermore, after 6 weeks of adalimumab combination therapy with sertraline, inflammatory biomarkers significantly decreased ( P ≤ 0.001), whereas no significant alteration was found in the placebo group. No serious adverse event was documented in the treatment arms.

CONCLUSIONS

Adalimumab adjunctive therapy remarkably improves depressive symptoms of patients with MDD. Further investigations with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are required to confirm the findings.

Prevalence and Odds of Anxiety Disorders and Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Adults with Psoriasis: Systematic Review and Meta-analysi

The magnitude of the association between psoriasis and depression has been evaluated, but not that between psoriasis and anxiety. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the prevalence and odds of anxiety disorders and symptoms in patients with psoriasis. Five medical databases (Cochrane Database, EMBASE, PubMed, PsychINFO, ScienceDirect) were searched for relevant literature. A total of 101 eligible articles were identified. Meta-analysis revealed different prevalence rates depending on the type of anxiety disorder: 15% [95% confidence interval [CI] 9–21] for social anxiety disorder, 11% [9–14] for generalized anxiety disorder, and 9% [95% CI 8–10] for unspecified anxiety disorder. There were insufficient studies assessing other anxiety disorders to be able to draw any conclusions on their true prevalence. Meta-analysis also showed a high prevalence of anxiety symptoms (34% [95% CI 32–37]). Case-control studies showed a positive association between psoriasis and unspecified anxiety disorder (odds ratio 1.48 [1.18; 1.85]) and between psoriasis and anxiety symptoms (odds ratio 2.51 [2.02; 3.12]). All meta-analyses revealed an important heterogeneity, which could be explained in each case by methodological factors. The results of this study raise the necessity of screening for the presence of anxiety disorders, as previously recommended for depressive disorders, in patients with psoriasis and, if necessary, to refer such patients for evaluation by a mental health professional and appropriate treatment.

SARS-CoV-2 Psychiatric Sequelae: A Review of Neuroendocrine Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies

From the earliest days of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there have been reports of significant neurological and psychological symptoms following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This narrative review is designed to examine the potential psychoneuroendocrine pathogenic mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 elicits psychiatric sequelae as well as to posit potential pharmacologic strategies to address and reverse these pathologies. Following a brief overview of neurological and psychological sequelae from previous viral pandemics, we address mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 could enter or otherwise elicit changes in the CNS. We then examine the hypothesis that COVID-19-induced psychiatric disorders result from challenges to the neuroendocrine system, in particular the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress axis and monoamine synthesis, physiological mechanisms that are only further enhanced by the pandemic-induced social environment of fear, isolation, and socioeconomic pressure. Finally, we evaluate several FDA-approved therapeutics in the context of COVID-19-induced psychoneuroendocrine disorders.

Common Fundamentals of Psoriasis and Depression

Psoriasis is an inflammatory, immune-mediated disease that is frequently associated with psychological comorbidities such as depression. The stigma patients feel because of the appearance of their skin may contribute to the high psycho-social burden of psoriasis. However, there is emerging evidence that overlapping biological mechanisms are, to a substantial degree, responsible for the close interaction between psoriasis and depression. Increased proinflammatory mediators, such as C-reactive protein or interleukin-6, are present in both psoriasis and depression, indicating that inflammation may represent a pathophysiological link between the diseases. Anti-inflammatory biologic therapies treat the clinical manifestations of psoriasis, but might also play a significant role in reducing associated depressive symptoms in patients with psoriasis. Comparison between single studies focusing on the change in depressive symptoms in psoriasis is limited by inconsistency in the depression screening tools applied.

Anti-TNF-α Compounds as a Treatment for Depression

Millions of people around the world suffer from psychiatric illnesses, causing unbearable burden and immense distress to patients and their families. Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation may contribute to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders such as major depression and bipolar disorder. Copious studies have consistently shown that patients with mood disorders have increased levels of plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Given these findings, selective anti-TNF-α compounds were tested as a potential therapeutic strategy for mood disorders. This mini-review summarizes the results of studies that examined the mood-modulating effects of anti-TNF-α drugs.

Real-World Evidence From More Than 1000 Patients Treated With Adalimumab For Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis in the Czech Republic

Introduction

The study aimed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of adalimumab as well as investigate the persistence of treatment and identify factors, which may affect it.

Methods

More than 1150 patients (4363.1 patient-years) with psoriasis who had been treated with adalimumab since the start of the BIOREP registry in the Czech Republic were included in this analysis. Treatment effectiveness was defined as improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). The analysis was performed during the years 2005 and 2018. Patients were on on-label dose.

Results

After 12 and 96 months of therapy, 84% and 88% of patients had a 75% reduction in PASI score from baseline, respectively. Drug survival was analyzed according to the number of previous biological therapies, and results showed 75% and 58.1% survival rate for biologically naïve patients in the 20th and 80th month of treatment, respectively. The negative predictors of adalimumab survival were the female gender, obesity, baseline PASI score and the number of previous biological therapies.

Conclusions

Baseline factors including PASI, number of previous biological therapies, and sex were associated with shorter adalimumab survival. This long-term study shows that adalimumab is effective and has high treatment persistence.

Treat-to-Target Approach for the Management of Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Consensus Recommendations

Introduction

Treat-to-target strategies are used in several chronic diseases to improve outcomes. Treatment goals have also been suggested for psoriasis, but there is currently no consensus on targets, and guidance is needed to implement this strategy in clinical practice. The project ‘Treat to Target Italia’ was launched by a scientific board (SB) of 10 psoriasis experts to generate expert consensus recommendations.

Methods

On the basis of the published literature, their clinical experience, and the results of a survey among Italian dermatologists, the SB identified four relevant topics: (1) clinical remission; (2) quality of life; (3) abrogation of systemic inflammation; (4) safety. They drafted 20 statements addressing these four topics and submitted them to a panel of 28 dermatologists, in a Delphi process, to achieve consensus (greater than 80% agreement).

Results

Consensus was reached on all statements. Treatment goals defining clinical remission should include a 90% improvement from baseline in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI90 response) or an absolute PASI score of less than or equal to 3. Patient’s quality of life and satisfaction are important targets. If PASI targets are achieved, there should be no or very low impact of psoriasis on quality of life [Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score less than or equal to 3]. If PASI or DLQI goals are not achieved within 3–4 months, treatment should be changed. Abrogation of systemic inflammation may be crucial for preventing or delaying inflammatory comorbidities. Safety is an equally important target as efficacy.

Conclusion

These 20 consensus statements define the parameters of a treat-to-target strategy for psoriasis in Italy. It is hoped that use of these in the management of patients with psoriasis will improve treatment outcomes and patient health-related quality of life.