Efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in adolescents

The biologic agent ustekinumab is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to the p40 subunit shared by interleukins (ILs) 12 and 23. The antibody is able to prevent binding of cytokines to the IL-12Rβ1 cell surface receptor and therefore may prevent IL-23 driven activation of the IL-23/Th 17 axis of inflammation. The anti-inflammatory activity has been beneficial in adult psoriasis. Ustekinumab has been approved in the United States for the treatment of adults with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Approval in children and adolescents has not been granted by the US Food and Drug Administration. Subcutaneous injections of ustekinumab are administered at baseline, week 4 and every 12 weeks thereafter, a regimen that is particularly appealing to young patients who do not like more frequent injections at home. The product is attractive because, although it works through an immune system mechanism, the selective activity is such that the drug has not been associated with many of the side effects attributed to other immunosuppressive medications. Case reports of ustekinumab for pediatric psoriasis have shown promising results, and the recent Phase III CADMUS trial tested the agent in adolescents aged 12-17 years with psoriasis, using standard dose 0.75 mg/kg (≤60 kg), 45 mg (>60-≤100 kg), and 90 mg (>100 kg) or half-standard dosing 0.375 mg/kg (≤60 kg), 22.5 mg (>60-≤100 kg), and 45 mg (>100 kg) with a loading dosage at week 0 and week 4. Psoriasis area and severity index-75 was achieved in more than three-quarters of patients in full and half dosing by 12 weeks, and psoriasis area and severity index-90 in 54.1% and 61.1% of half and full dosage by 12 weeks, respectively. Ustekinumab was generally well tolerated in adolescents, with some patients developing antibodies, and nasopharyngitis being the major adverse event. Ustekinumab is a promising agent in adolescent psoriasis that appears to be well tolerated. The best monitoring plan and usage in younger patients still remain to be defined.

The management of osteoporosis in children

This article reviews the manifestations and risk factors associated with osteoporosis in childhood, the definition of osteoporosis and recommendations for monitoring and prevention. As well, this article discusses when a child should be considered a candidate for osteoporosis therapy, which agents should be prescribed, duration of therapy and side effects. There has been significant progress in our understanding of risk factors and the natural history of osteoporosis in children over the past number of years. This knowledge has fostered the development of logical approaches to the diagnosis, monitoring, and optimal timing of osteoporosis intervention in this setting. Current management strategies are predicated upon monitoring at-risk children to identify and then treat earlier rather than later signs of osteoporosis in those with limited potential for spontaneous recovery. On the other hand, trials addressing the prevention of the first-ever fracture are still needed for children who have both a high likelihood of developing fractures and less potential for recovery. This review focuses on the evidence that shapes the current approach to diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of osteoporosis in childhood, with emphasis on the key pediatric-specific biological principles that are pivotal to the overall approach and on the main questions with which clinicians struggle on a daily basis. The scope of this article is to review the manifestations of and risk factors for primary and secondary osteoporosis in children, to discuss the definition of pediatric osteoporosis, and to summarize recommendations for monitoring and prevention of bone fragility. As well, this article reviews when a child is a candidate for osteoporosis therapy, which agents and doses should be prescribed, the duration of therapy, how the response to therapy is adjudicated, and the short- and long-term side effects. With this information, the bone health clinician will be poised to diagnose osteoporosis in children and to identify when children need osteoporosis therapy and the clinical outcomes that gauge efficacy and safety of treatment.