title: Real-World Experience With Apremilast in Treating Psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical trial data have shown apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, to be efficacious and safe for the treatment of psoriasis. However, little real-world experience using apremilast in the community setting has been documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Many patients with psoriasis are often unresponsive to various treatment modalities, including topical, systemic, and biologic medications. The aim of this chart review was to assess the overall patient experience while using apremilast to treat psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of electronic medical records was conducted of all patients prescribed apremilast in a community dermatology practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 99 patients who were prescribed apremilast, 81 patients took at least 1 dose. In 63 patients, apremilast improved clinical disease severity, with 37% of patients achieving a body surface area <1%. As a treatment, it was generally well tolerated and caused no serious adverse events. The most commonly reported side effect resulting in discontinuation of treatment of apremilast was nausea and vomiting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, apremilast was a safe and well-tolerated treatment with significant clinical improvement in our patient population.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Julia N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Mayba
authors.affiliation: 2 Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.|3 SKiN Centre for Dermatology, Peterborough, ON, Canada.|4 Probity Medical Research, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Melinda J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gooderham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010789:Phototherapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013792:Thalidomide; C505730:apremilast
keywords: apremilast; phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors; psoriasis; real-world application; systemic therapy