Impact of ixekizumab on psoriasis itch severity and other psoriasis symptoms: Results from 3 phase III psoriasis clinical trials.
BACKGROUND
Itch is a prevalent symptom of psoriasis that impacts quality of life.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to describe improvements in itch severity, skin pain, and bothersomeness of skin appearance caused by psoriasis among patients who received ixekizumab, etanercept, or placebo in three 12-week, phase III clinical trials (UNCOVER-1, -2, and -3).


METHODS
The itch numeric rating scale evaluated psoriasis itch severity in all 3 trials. Skin pain was assessed by skin pain visual analog scale. Bothersomeness because of redness/discoloration, thickness, and scaling/flaking was assessed with the Psoriasis Skin Appearance Bothersomeness instrument. Psoriasis skin appearance bothersomeness and skin pain were assessed at baseline and week 12; itch numeric rating scale score was assessed at baseline and weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12.


RESULTS
Patients who received ixekizumab demonstrated statistically significant improvements (P < .001) in itch severity, reduction in skin pain, and degree of bothersomeness compared with those who received etanercept or placebo. Clinically meaningful improvements in itch severity were achieved as early as week 1.


CONCLUSIONS
Longer-term evaluations of psoriasis symptom improvement with ixekizumab treatment are needed.


CONCLUSIONS
After treatment with ixekizumab, patients reported fast, significant, and clinically meaningful improvements in itch severity and other psoriasis-related symptoms such as skin pain and skin appearance bothersomeness.
Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: akimball@mgh.harvard.edu.
Alexandra B
AB
Kimball
Department of Dermatology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
Thomas
T
Luger
Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
Alice
A
Gottlieb
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Luis
L
Puig
Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
Roland
R
Kaufmann
Eli Lilly and Company, Brussels, Belgium.
Enkeleida
E
Nikaï
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Baojin
B
Zhu
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Emily
E
Edson-Heredia
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Hilde
H
Carlier
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Chen-Yen
CY
Lin
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Orin
O
Goldblum
Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Gil
G
Yosipovitch
D000328:Adult; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068800:Etanercept / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C549079:ixekizumab; D000068800:Etanercept
itch; itch numeric rating scale; patient-reported outcomes; psoriasis; skin appearance bothersomeness; skin pain