Clinical characteristics and systemic therapies administered to first-time patients at a tertiary psoriasis outpatient clinic.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and the systemic therapies given to a cohort of patients attending for the first time our tertiary psoriasis outpatient clinic.


METHODS
Data were extracted from an electronic database where the patients, mostly eligible for systemic therapies, are consecutively recorded. Based on skin disease severity the subjects were classified into three groups: group 1, mild psoriasis (MP; Psoriasis Area Severity Index [PASI]≤5); group 2, mild-to-moderate psoriasis (MMP; 5<PASI<10); group 3, moderate-to-severe psoriasis (MSP; PASI>10).


RESULTS
Of the 289 patients studied, 88 (30.4%) presented with MP, 91 (31.5%) with MMP, and 110 (38%) with MSP, 89 (30.8%) of whom were affected by psoriatic arthritis. Of the 289 patients, 267 (92.3%) were deemed eligible for a systemic treatment, and 228 (85.4%) of them started a systemic treatment as monotherapy. The therapies administered were as follows: cyclosporine to 65 (28.5%); methotrexate to 59 (25.8%); etanercept to 33 (44%); adalimumab to 25 (33.3%); ustekinumab to 17 (22.6%); acitretin to 29 (12.7%); golimumab to one (1.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show a composite distribution of patients eligible for a systemic therapy and attending for the first time our center. The traditional drugs were more frequently administered (67.1%) as compared to biological ones (32.9%).
Center for the Study and Treatment of Psoriasis, Department of Clinical Dermatology, San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute for Scientific Research, Rome, Italy - cbonifati@gmail.com.
Claudio
C
Bonifati
Dario
D
Graceffa
Viviana
V
Lora
Elisa
E
Maiani
D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D001685:Biological Factors; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents