Publications by authors named "R Balestri"
Background: Despite extraordinary improvements in the management of psoriasis in recent times, some areas of the body, such as the pretibial area, still show an unsatisfactory response and a more significant impact on patient quality of life. This multicentre study focuses on psoriasis affecting sensitive areas (particularly the pretibial area), its impact on quality of life and the therapeutic response to risankizumab.
Methods: This multicentre prospective observational study recruited patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis with pretibial area involvement.
Real-life effectiveness and safety of baricitinib in patients with severe alopecia areata: A 24-week Italian study.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
September 2024
Background: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition characterized by rapid hair loss in the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes, for which treatments are limited. Baricitinib, an oral inhibitor of Janus kinases 1 and 2, has been recently approved to treat alopecia areata.
Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving 23 medical centres across Italy, enrolling patients affected by severe alopecia areata (SALT >50), for more than 6 months.
Objective: The prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients diagnosed with Alopecia Areata (AA) is very high and this significant burden of psychological symptoms threatens the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of affected patients. Indeed, AA often does not produce significant physical symptoms, but it nonetheless disrupts many areas of mental health. Clinical assessment of disease severity may not reliably predict patient's HRQoL, nor may it predict the patient's perception of illness.
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- The study aimed to gather real-world data on the use of bimekizumab for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in patients aged 65 and older, an age group often underrepresented in clinical trials.
- Conducted in 33 dermatological clinics in Italy, 98 elderly patients were treated with bimekizumab while collecting clinical and demographic data to monitor their progress and any adverse events over 36 weeks.
- Results showed significant improvements in psoriasis symptoms, with PASI scores dropping substantially after treatment, and a majority of patients achieving PASI75 or higher by weeks 16 and 36.