Psoriasis outcome measures: a report from the GRAPPA 2012 annual meeting.

Psoriasis is a multisystem disease. The cutaneous and musculoskeletal manifestations (psoriatic arthritis) are well recognized. However, the other manifestations of psoriatic disease including metabolic syndrome, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, depression, poor self-esteem, and self-destructive habits including obesity, smoking and excess alcohol consumption are underappreciated.

Ustekinumab for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Ustekinumab, which is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis, has been shown in phase II clinical trials to be efficacious in controlling the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Ustekinumab appears to be well tolerated, but its longterm safety profile is not yet known.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the addition of methotrexate to etanercept in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Background: Etanercept plus methotrexate combination therapy has not been adequately investigated in psoriasis.

Objectives: To evaluate etanercept plus methotrexate vs. etanercept monotherapy in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who had not failed prior methotrexate or tumour necrosis factor-inhibitor therapy.

Efficacy and safety of briakinumab vs. etanercept and placebo in patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

Background: The anti-interleukin-12/23p40 monoclonal antibody briakinumab has been shown in a phase II study to be effective psoriasis treatment.

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of briakinumab compared with etanercept and placebo in patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

Methods: In this phase III, 12-week study (M10-114, NCT00691964), 347 patients were randomized in a 2 : 2 : 1 ratio to receive 200 mg briakinumab at weeks 0 and 4 followed by 100 mg briakinumab at week 8 (n = 138); 50 mg of etanercept twice weekly 3-4 days apart at weeks 0-11 (n = 141); or placebo injections matching active treatment (n = 68).

Validation and response to treatment of a pruritus self-assessment tool in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Background: Pruritus is a common symptom of psoriasis. In many clinical trials of psoriasis treatments, severity of pruritus is a patient-reported outcome.

Objective: We sought to evaluate a patient-reported pruritus self-assessment tool using data from clinical trials of a tumor necrosis factor blocker.

Comorbidities in patients with psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory disease that is associated with serious comorbidities, including psoriatic arthritis, reduced quality of life, depression, malignancy, and cardiovascular comorbidities. Patients with psoriasis have been shown to have an increased incidence of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease compared with the general population. The chronic inflammatory nature of psoriasis has been suggested to be a contributing and potentially independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular comorbidities.