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Abstract Background: Psoriasis is associated with several comorbidities and its association with thyroid abnormality has been hypothesized. Objective: To assess the prevalence of thyroid abnormality in Brazilian patients with psoriasis and to analyze its association with severity, presence of psoriatic arthritis and immunobiological treatment. Additionally, to compare results with literature as a control. Methods: In this observational study, clinical and laboratory data of patients followed from January 2018 to December 2019 were analyzed. Thyroid abnormality was assessed through the current history of thyroid disease and laboratory tests - thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and antithyroglobulin (anti-TG) antibodies. Patients were classified according to psoriasis severity - Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), presence of psoriatic arthritis, and current treatment. Subsequently, the results were compared with a control group selected from the literature review. Results: Of the 250 included patients, 161 were eligible. The prevalence of thyroid abnormality was 28.57% and of hypothyroidism, 14.91%. The mean age was 55 years and the median PASI was 2.2. There was no association between thyroid abnormality and PASI (p = 0.8), presence of psoriatic arthritis (p = 0.87), or use of immunobiological therapy (p = 0.13). The literature control group included 6,227 patients and there was a statistically significant difference for the hypothyroidism variable (p < 0.0001).

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Introdução: A disbiose intestinal parece desempenhar um papel importante em diversas doenças imunomediadas, havendo um interesse crescente em compreender a influência do microbioma intestinal na doença psoriásica. Objetivos: Estudar o microbioma intestinal em pacientes com doença psoriásica grave em comparação com indivíduos sem psoríase. Em paralelo, avaliar as diferenças do microbioma intestinal de indivíduos portadores de psoríase, com e sem doença articular associada. Por fim, avaliar o microbioma dos indivíduos do grupo controle, diferenciando-os quanto a história positiva de psoríase em parentes de primeiro grau. Métodos: Estudo tipo caso controle, onde foi realizado sequenciamento do gene 16S rRNA V3/V4 e análises bioinformáticas com o DNA total extraído de amostras de fezes de 30 pacientes com doença psoriásica grave e 30 controles, pareados por idade e sexo e pertencentes à mesma localização geográfica. A classificação de gravidade respeitou os critérios do consenso, sendo considerados graves aqueles com superfície corporal acometida acima de 10% e/ou escore de PASI maior que 10 e/ou questionário DLQI maior que 10.Resultados: Foram estudados 60 indivíduos. Não se documentou diferença em alfa diversidade entre os grupos (p > 0.05). Entretanto, a análise da diversidade beta do microbioma intestinal mostrou diferentes agrupamentos entre os pacientes portadores de psoríase quando comparados aos controles (p = 0.031). A relação Firmicutes/Bacteriodetes (F/B) foi maior nos expostos (p = 0.05). A abundância diferencial ajustada mostrou aumento da expressão do gênero Sutterella (p < 0.01) e da espécie Sutterella wadsworthensis (p < 0.05) no grupo com psoríase. Quando comparados pacientes com e sem doença articular, não foi possível documentar diferenças em termos de alfa ou betadiversidade. Entretanto, pacientes com artrite psoriásica estabelecida apresentaram maior expressão do gênero Bacterioides (p = 0.02), além da espécie Bacteriodes uniformes (p = 0.03). Não foi identificada qualquer diferença relevante entre os controles, quando comparados indivíduos com e sem história familiar de psoríase. Conclusões: Foi possível demonstrar um microbioma intestinal diferente entre os portadores de doença psoriásica grave, quando comparados aos controles sem psoríase. Verificou-se uma maior expressão, significativa, do gênero Sutterella e da espécie Sutterella wadsworthensis entre os portadores de doença psoriásica, podendo representar uma marca da disbiose relacionada à esta doença. Em paralelo, verificouse diferenças estatísticamente siginificativas entre pacientes com doença articular, sendo, porém, uma marca nestes pacientes a maior expressão do gênero Bacterioides e da espécie Bacteriodes uniformes. Cabe destacar que a razão F/B foi inferior nos expostos. Achado não inédito, porém contrário a maior parte das publicações onde se demonstra predomínio do filo Firmicutes entre doentes. Do mesmo modo, redução de Akkermansia e Ruminoccocus, previamente relacionados à doença psoriásica, não foram verificados. Talvez por baixa leitura em ambos os grupos. Por fim, não houve diferença naqueles indivíduos com história familiar de psoríase em parentes de primeiro grau, em termos de microbioma intestinal. Este trabalho é um dos poucos estudos brasileiros e traz novas evidências sobre microbioma e psoríase. Consideramos que o microbioma merece atenção, especialmente porque traz diferentes oportunidades de intervenção, embora ainda existam alguns pontos a serem confirmados com estudos prospectivos.(AU)

Background: Gut dysbiosis may play a role in immune-mediated diseases. There is a growing interest in understanding microbiome influence in psoriasis. Objectives: To study the gut microbiome in patients with severe psoriatic disease, when compared with individuals without psoriasis. In parallel, to evaluate the differences in the gut microbiome of individuals with psoriasis, with and without psoriatic arthritis. Finally, to evaluate the microbiome of individuals in the control group, differentiating them based on a positive family history of psoriasis in firstdegree relatives. Methods: V3/V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were performed with the total DNA extracted from the stool samples of 30 patients with severe plaque psoriasis and 30 age and gender-matched controls from the same geographic location. The severity classification respected the consensus criteria, with those with an affected body surface area above 10% and/or a PASI score greater than 10 and/or a DLQI questionnaire also greater than 10; being considered severe disease. Results: Sixty individuals were studied. No difference in alpha-diversity was documented between the groups (p > 0.05). Beta-diversity analysis showed different clustering of the gut microbiome in severe psoriasis when compared with controls (p = 0.031). Firmicutes/Bacteriodetes ratio was higher psoriasis (p = 0.05). Adjusted differential abundance showed an increased expression of Sutterella gender (p < 0.01) and Sutterella wadsworthensis species (p < 0.05) in psoriasis group. When comparing patients with and without joint disease, it was not possible to document differences in terms of alpha or beta diversity. However, patients with established psoriatic arthritis showed higher expression of the Bacterioides genus (p = 0.02), and Bacteriodes uniform species (p = 0.03). No relevant difference was identified between controls when comparing individuals with and without a family history of psoriasis. Conclusions: It was possible to demonstrate a different pattern of gut microbiome among those with severe psoriatic disease, when compared to controls. There was a significant greater expression of the genus Sutterella and Sutterella wadsworthensis species among patients, which may represent a sign of dysbiosis related to psoriasis. In parallel, there were no statistically significant differences in alpha and beta diversity between patients with joint disease when compared to those without psoriatic arthritis. However, a hallmark in these patients was the greater expression of the genus Bacterioides and the species Bacteriodes uniformes. It is worth noting that the F/B ratio was lower in psoriatic patients. This is not an unprecedented finding, but contrary to most publications that demonstrates the predominance of the Firmicutes phylum among patients. Likewise, reduction of Akkermansia and Ruminoccocus, previously related to psoriatic disease, were not verified in our sample. Perhaps due to low reading in both groups. Finally, there was no difference in those individuals with a family history of psoriasis in first-degree relatives, in terms of gut microbiome. This paper is one of the few Brazilian studies and brings insights into microbiome and psoriasis. Microbiome deserves our attention, especially since it brings different opportunities for intervention, although there are still some key points to be confirmed with prospective studies.(AU)

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Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of different dosages of new drugs in the treatment of PsA by using network meta-analysis.Methods:Three medical databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) were searched for the studies that compared the efficacy and safety of 4 new drugs (secukinumab, ixekizumab, apremilast, tofacitinib) with different dosages in the treatment of PsA. Data from included studies were analyzed by Stata 15.0.Results:A total of 16 RCTs were included. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that: (1) Among the overall patients, in terms of ACR20 response rate, the larger the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA), the more effective it is. Secukinumab 300 mg Q4W(96.1%) had the best efficacy, followed by ixekizumab 80 mg Q4W(79.0%), ixekizumab 80 mg Q2W(75.1%), secukinumab 150 mg Q4W(73.2%), apremilast 30 mg BID(50.6%), apremilast 20 mg BID(38.6%), tofacitinib 5 mg BID(18.1%), tofacitinib 10 mg BID(17.7%) and placebo(2.0%). (2) In terms of PASI75 response rate, the larger the area under the SUCRA curve, the more effective it is. Ixekizumab 80 mg Q4W(96.1%) had the best efficacy, followed by ixekizumab 80 mg Q2W(88.7%), secukinumab 300 mg Q4W(75.6%), secukinumab 150 mg Q4W(63.3%), apremilast 30 mg BID(44.5%), apremilast 20 mg BID(38.4%), tofacitinib 10 mg BID(30.0%), tofacitinib 5 mg BID(12.5%) and placebo(1.0%). (3) Among the overall patients, in terms of safety, the smaller the area under the SUCRA curve, the higher the safety it is. Secukinumab 300 mg Q4W (17.3%) has the best safety. (4) The results of subgroup analysis showed that in terms of ACR20 response rate, ixekizumab 80 mg Q2W(85.3%) had the best efficacy in bDMARDs-na?ve patients, while in bDMARDs-IR patients, secukinumab 300 mg Q4W(83.9%) had the best efficacy.Conclusion:Among all patients, secukinumab 300 mg Q4W is the best in terms of ACR20 response rate and safety, but ixekizumab 80 mg Q4W is more effective in improving PsA lesions comparing yo other drugs.

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Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of secukinumab in the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Methods:Thirty active PsA patients in the out-patient clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of the PLA Air Force Military Medical University between July 2020 to December 2021 were included in this study. Patients were categorized into one group with axial involvement ( n=17, 57%) and the other group with peripheral joint involvement ( n=13, 43%) according to arthritis subtypes. Patients in both groups received a subcutaneous injection of 300 mg of secukinumab at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks, and then every 4 weeks. The CRP, ESR, VAS pain score (VAS-pain, 0~10 cm), physician comprehensive assessment of disease activity by VAS score (VAS-gh, 0~10 cm), psoriasis involvement area and severity index (PASI), skin quality of life index (DLQI), psoriatic arthritis disease activity index (DAPSA), psoriatic arthritis activity score (PASDAS), Bath ankylosing spondylitis activity index (BASDAI) were recorded at week 0, week 12, and week 24. DAP-SA response (score ≤4) and minimum disease activity (MDA) were also used to assess the proportion of overall patients who responded to secukinumab treatment. The measurement data with normal distribution were analyzed by repeated measure analysis of variance. Non-normally distributed data were expressed as median (IQR). Count data were expressed as frequency and percentage (%) and analyzed by Fisher exact probability method. Results:The mean duration of skin disease in both axial involvement and peripheral joint involvement groups was (14±8)years and (12±7)years ( t=0.70, P=0.256), respectively. The mean duration of arthritis symptoms in both groups was (3.2±3.7)years and (1.8±2.1)years ( t=1.17, P=0.125), respectively. All patients completed 24 weeks of secukinumab treatment. At 24 weeks, VAS-pain, VAS-gh, PASI, DLQI, DAPSA, PASDAS and BASDAI were all decreased significantly ( P<0.05). Patients with axial involvement seemed more likely to benefit in CRP [2.4 (1.7, 3.5) mg/L vs 8.0 (5.3, 14.0) mg/L, Z=-2.69, P=0.007] and VAS-pain[1.0 (0, 2.0) vs (5.0, 6.0), Z=-3.47, P<0.001]improvement ( P<0.005). Both groups achieved PASI 100, which meant achieving clearance of skin dis-ease. The DAPSA remission rate and MDA of the patients with axial involvement were 88% and 82%, re-spectively, and the DAPSA remission rate and MDA were 92% and 92%, respectively. Secukinumab was found to be safe and well tolerated with no adverse event reported or observed during 24-week treatment. Conclusion:In real-world observations, secukinumab is proven to be safe and effective for the treatment of PsA, with rapid relieving of skin and joint symptoms and reduction of disease activity. Patients with axial involvement may benefit more notably than patients with peripheral arthritis subtype.

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Abstract BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a systemic, immune-mediated disease characterized by inflammatory manifestations in the skin and joints. Vitamin D deficiency is currently considered a pandemic and is associated with comorbidities including psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D [25(OH)D] in patients with plaque psoriasis, with and without PsA, and of independent predictors of serum 25(OH)D levels. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective cross-sectional study conducted among 300 patients at an outpatient clinic in a university center in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data (psoriasis area and severity index [PASI], family history, age at onset, disease duration, and the presence of PsA according to Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis), skin phototype, and season of the year were reviewed. RESULTS: Hypovitaminosis D (< 30 ng/mL) was highly prevalent in patients with psoriasis with and without PsA (82.2% and 74.9%, respectively). An inverse correlation between PASI and vitamin D was found (without PsA r = -0.59 and, PsA r = -0.52, P < 0.001), and multivariate regression revealed that hypovitaminosis D was associated with disease severity, season, and phototype. It was confirmed by binary logistic regression between PASI and vitamin D deficiency (< 30 ng/mL), (odds ratio, OR 1.78 CI: -0.20-0.53, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Hypovitaminosis D (< 30 ng/mL) was highly prevalent in psoriatic patients with and without PsA. Season and skin phototype were associated with 25(OH)D levels. An inverse association between PASI and serum 25(OH)D levels was established.

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ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects multiple joints. It is associated with psoriasis and treated with synthetic and biologic drugs. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes of patients who received biologic therapy with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in terms of effectiveness, safety, functionality, and quality of life. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective observational study was performed at a single center in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. METHODS: Patients with PsA who received their first TNF inhibitor treatment were followed up for 12 months. Disease activity was measured using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI). Functionality was measured using the Health Questionnaire Assessment (HAQ), and quality of life was evaluated using the European Quality of Life Five Dimensions (EQ-5D). Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of the clinical response at 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients treated with adalimumab or etanercept were evaluated. Most of the clinical measures were significantly improved at 12 months. However, 31%-51% of the patients did not achieve good clinical control. No differences were observed between adalimumab and etanercept, except for poor functionality at 12 months among patients treated with etanercept. The main predictors of a worse clinical response were female sex, etanercept use, poor functionality, or lower quality of life at baseline. The main adverse reactions were alopecia, headache, injection site reaction, sinusitis, flu, dyslipidemia, and infections. CONCLUSION: TNF inhibitor therapy was effective and safe. However, despite improvements in clinical measures, most patients did not achieve satisfactory control of the disease.

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Objective:To investigate the relationship between psoriasis severity and clinical features in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Methods:Patients were recruited from the Chinese REgistry of Psoriatic ARthritis (CREPAR) between December 2018 and June 2021, and data were collected including the baseline demographic characteristics, various clinical manifestations (including arthritis, nail disease, comorbidities), laboratory tests[including erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP)], health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). Body surface area (BSA) and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) were selected for the tools of assessment of cutaneous psoriasis. Patients were divided to two groups, including the severe psoriasis group (BSA>10%) and the non-severe psoriasis group (BSA≤10%). Disease assessment included ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS), disease activity score 28 (DAS28) and disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (DAPSA).Results:1 074 eligible patients with PsA were recruited, and 106 (9.9%) had severe psoriasis. Compared with non-severe psoriasis group, the severe psoriasis group had more peripheral joint involvement (including patients with ever or current peripheral arthritis, 94.3% vs. 85.6%), more polyarticular joint involvement (including patients with current peripheral arthritis, 74.0% vs. 58.2%), more axial joint involvement (51.4% vs. 39.9%), more nail disease (72.6% vs. 61.4%), more frequency of smoking (20.2% vs. 18.7%), and higher proportion of hypertension (23.4% vs. 14.4%). In addition, the severe psoriasis group had higher level of ESR [33(10, 70) mm/1h vs. 20(9, 38) mm/1h] and CRP [18.6(5.0, 60.8) mg/L vs. 7.0(2.4, 18.1) mg/L], higher values of DAS28-ESR (4.5±1.7 vs. 3.7±1.5), DAS28-CRP (4.2±1.5 vs. 3.4±1.4), ASDAS-ESR (3.5±1.4 vs. 2.6±1.2), and ASDAS-CRP(3.4±1.6 vs. 2.5±1.2), higher scores of HAQ [0.6(0.1, 1.0) vs. 0.3(0.0, 0.8)].Conclusion:Patients with PsA with severe psoriasis bore a heavier disease burden. Therefore, clinicians were supposed to pay more attention to them. In addition to skin lesions, they should also focus on examination of other clinical manifestations, such as joints and nails.

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Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease, characterized by psoriasis skin lesions and inflammation of the spine and joint. It has complicated clinical manifestations and individual variations. Nearly half of the patients will have joints erosion in two years, which is crippling. The severity of the skin and joint disease frequently do not correlate with each other. Currently, the understanding of the disease is insufficient in China with the lack of standardized diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, researchers from the Chinese Rheumatology Association formulated this specification based on the diagnosis and management experience together with guidelines at home and abroad. The specification summarizes the present situation of domestic diagnosis and treatment, aiming to standardize the diagnosis process and treatment protocols of psoriatic arthritis. Furthermore, it can reduce misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis, as well as improve the prognosis.

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Abstract Immunobiologicals are a reality in current clinical practice and have increasingly gained space in the inflammatory disease scenario, especially in dermatology, with approved drugs for psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa, in addition to many others undergoing study. It is important for dermatologists to have knowledge of the medications approved in Brazil, for the best management of dermatoses, in addition to the fact that they represent hope for improvement in patients with chronic diseases.

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ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis is the most frequent and impactful comorbidity among psoriatic patients and appears in most cases after skin disease. Dermatologists play a key role in its early diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis and associated variables among patients with plaque psoriasis seen at a reference center for treating psoriasis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective cross-sectional study conducted among 300 patients at an outpatient clinic in a university center in Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. METHODS: Standardized records of 300 patients with plaque psoriasis were examined. Demographic data and medical variables relating to psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), family history, age at onset and disease progression) and psoriasis arthritis (CASPAR criteria) were evaluated. Laboratory and radiographic tests in the medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: Seventy-three (24.3%) of these 300 patients with plaque psoriasis had psoriatic arthritis. Asymmetric oligoarthritis (58.9%) was the most common clinical form, followed by polyarthritis (20.5%), distal interphalangeal arthritis (15.2%) and spondyloarthritis (5.4%). Dactylitis was present in 21.9% and enthesitis in 35.6% of patients. Compared with patients without arthritis, patients with arthritis had higher average age, higher frequency of positive family history of psoriasis, longer duration of evolution and higher PASI rates. CONCLUSION: Psoriatic arthritis is often underdiagnosed. Since dermatologists perform the initial approach, these professionals need to be trained to diagnose this comorbidity and treat it, together with rheumatologists.

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Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib (TOF) in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Methods:The clinical data of 5 patients with PsA from September 2018 to December 2020 in People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were collected. Five patients were treated with a variety of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), two of them had ever been treated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) [recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alphareceptor Ⅱ: IgG Fc (rhTNFR: Fc, Adalimumab], but failed to show efficacy or relapse after drug withdrawal. Multiple joints were involved in 2 patients. These five patients were treated with tofacitinib. Their data were collected and analyzed 3-month and 6-month after treatment respectively, including the changes of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), severity of pain measured by visual analogue scale (VAS), joint pain count (TCJ), joint swelling count (SCJ), health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), 28 joint disease activity score (DAS28 CRP), psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), and PsA disease activity index (DAPSA). Adverse reactions were observed and analyzed.Results:These 5 cases were treated with TOF 5 mg twice daily. Three months after treatment, swelling joints count and psoriatic rash were significantly improved, and pain was significantly relieved in 4 cases. Six months after treatment, the ESR, CRP, VAS, TCJ, SCJ, HAQ, DAS28 CRP, PASI, and DAPSA decreased further. According to DSA28-CRP score, peri-pheral joints involvement of 3 cases were improved, and 2 cases reached low disease activity state. The overall effective of PASI were observed in 4 cases. According to the DAPSA score, 1 case reached the PsA disease remission state and 4 cases reached the PsA low disease activity state. No remarkable adverse reactions occurred.Conclusion:With good therapeutic effect and less adverse reactions, TOF is a potential treatment option for PsA.

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The financial coverage granted by law in Chile for patients with psoriatic arthritis who require biological treatment is of paramount importance and a great advance. However physicians must be knowledgeable about the advantages and limitations of this therapy. The challenge of clinicians is to choose the drug with the greater odds of achieving therapeutic success, with less adverse events and lower costs for our health system. This article aims to help doctors to select the best biological treatment for a specific patient, trying to optimize its effectiveness, minimizing adverse effects, always looking for an efficient use of resources.

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Abstract Background: Psoriatic Arthritis is the spondyloarthritis associated with psoriasis, which is often related to high mortality due to cardiovascular causes. Objectives: To quantify cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity and smoking) and to measure risk by the Global Cardiovascular Risk Score in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Methods: Patients with psoriatic arthritis according to the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis, aged between 30 and 74 years and without any other clinically manifest chronic inflammatory disease, atherosclerotic disease or heart failure were included. After an interview, clinical examination and data extraction from medical records, risk stratification was performed using a calculator available on the online platform of the Framingham Heart Study. We considered p < 0.05 as significant. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare frequencies, as well as correlation measurements. Results: 45 patients were included, 68,9% of which were women and the mean age was 53,94 years. Dyslipidemia was confirmed in approximately 93%, hypertension in 46%, obesity in 40%, 33.3% were diabetics and, 13.3%, smokers; 95% had increased abdominal circumference. It was observed that 53% had high cardiovascular risk, 29% had intermediate risk and 18% had low risk. Individuals with altered C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate presented, respectively, higher levels of LDL-C and total cholesterol. Conclusions: There was a high occurrence of risk factors and the majority of the sample was stratified into high or intermediate cardiovascular risk.

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Abstract Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, which affects 1% of the population, being more common in young, obese and smokers, and mainly affects armpits and groin, with formation of pustules, nodules, abscesses, scars and fistulas. Recently, its association with other autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, pyogenic arthritis and ulcerative colitis have been reported. These associated forms are usually resistant to standard treatment, with immunobiologicals as promising therapy. The case of a rare form of association is reported, with only one case previously described in the literature: psoriasis arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, acne and hidradenitis suppurativa.

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Abstract: Background: Psoriasis has a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). Sexual life can also be affected, with sexual dysfunction being reported by 25-70% of patients. Objectives: To determine the occurrence of sexual dysfunction and evaluate QoL in women with psoriasis. Methods: This case-control study included women aged 18-69 years. The validated Brazilian Portuguese versions of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were administered to all participants to assess sexual function and QoL, respectively. Patients with psoriasis underwent clinical evaluation for the presence of comorbidities, especially psoriatic arthritis and other rheumatic manifestations. Location of lesions and the extent of skin involvement were also assessed. Results: The sample consisted of 150 women, 75 with diagnosis of psoriasis and 75 healthy controls. Prevalence of sexual dysfunction was high in women with psoriasis (58.6% of the sample). Prevalence was statistically higher in women with psoriasis than in controls (P = 0.014). The SF-36 domain scores were also lower in women with psoriasis, with role limitations due to physical health, limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health being the most affected domains. Study limitations: Sample size was calculated to evaluate the association between the occurrence of sexual dysfunction and psoriasis, but it did not include the determination of the possible causes of this dysfunction. Conclusions: QoL and sexual function were altered in women with psoriasis and should be taken into consideration when assessing disease severity.

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Objective To study the clinical effect of leflunomide combined with methotrexate in the treatment of skin lesions caused by psoriatic arthritis .Methods The clinical data of 90 patients with skin lesions caused by psoriatic arthritis were collected ,and they were divided into control group and observation group by simple random method,45 cases in each group.The control group was treated with methotrexate ,and the observation group was given leflunomide combined with methotrexate .Before treatment and after treatment for one month ,two months ,three months ,the skin lesions , psoriatic arthritis symptoms improvement , clinical effects and adverse reactions were observed in the two groups.Results After treatment for one month,two months,three months,the DLQL index scores in the observation group were (8.12 ±2.02)points,(6.55 ±1.47)points,(3.68 ±1.21)points,respectively,which were significantly better than those in the control group (t=2.54,3.92,4.44,P=0.01,0.01,0.01).After treatment for one month,two months,three months,the PASI index scores in the observation group were (7.57 ±3.22)points, (4.61 ±1.86)points,(3.11 ±2.17)points,respectively,which were better than those in the control group (t=3.42, 7.81,4.07,P =0.01,0.01,0.01).The total effective rate of the observation group was 88.89％,which was significantly higher than 68.89％of the control group (χ2 =5.40,P=0.02).No serious adverse reactions occurred in both two groups,and the difference was not statistically significant (11.11％ vs.13.33％,χ2 =0.10,P=0.75). Conclusion Compared with methotrexate alone , leflunomide combined with methotrexate in the treatment of skin lesions caused by psoriatic arthritis has obvious effect , and can significantly improve the symptoms of patients with skin and arthritis symptoms ,and it is more conducive to relieve patients'pain.

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Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of adalimumab for the treatment of severe psoriasis.Methods Between December 2015 and August 2017,14 patients with severe psoriasis who showed no response to traditional therapy were enrolled into this study.All the patients received subcutaneous injection of adalimumab at an initial dose of 80 mg,which decreased to a dose of 40 mg once every 2 weeks after l-week treatment.At week 4,8 and 12,the psoriasis area severity index (PASI)and physician's global assessment (PGA) scores were recorded,and clinical efficacy and adverse drug reactions were observed.In patients with psoriatic arthritis,the improvement of arthritis was evaluated according to the American College of Rheumatology 20％ response criteria (ACR20).Results All the 14 patients received the drug treatment for at least 12 weeks.At week 4,8 patients achieved 50％ reduction in PASI (PASI 50).At week 8,8 patients achieved PASI 75,and 2 of the 8 patients achieved PASI 90.At week 12,14 patients achieved PASI 75,7 of them achieved PASI 90,and 3 of them achieved PASI 100.Before the treatment,the average PGA score of the 14 patients were 4.92 ± 0.02,and decreased to 1.21 ± 0.02 at week 12.The arthritis symptom was markedly improved in the 3 patients with psoriatic arthritis.At week 8,2 patients achieved ACR20,and 3 achieved ACR20 at week 12.There were no serious adverse drug reactions such as serious infections and malignant tumors in any of the patients.Urticaria occurred in 3 patients,and was relieved after antihistamine treatment.Conclusion Subcutaneous injection of adalimumab every other week is markedly effective and safe for the treatment of severe psoriasis with few adverse drug reactions,and it provides a new treatment choice for patients with severe psoriasis who show no response to traditional therapy.

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Resumen Introducción. El penacho de la falange distal de las manos (PFDM) es una estructura ósea que sufre cambios sutiles en diversas enfermedades musculoesqueléticas. Hasta el momento, se desconoce el tipo y frecuencia de las lesiones del PFDM en psoriasis y artritis psoriásica (APs). Objetivo. Determinar en radiografía simple las anormalidades del PFDM en adultos con psoriasis y APs. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó una revisión sistemática buscando alteraciones radiográficas del PFDM en adultos con psoriasis y APs. La prevalencia de los hallazgos fue sintetizada usando un modelo de efectos fijos. Las asociaciones se expresaron como odds ratio (OR) con intervalos de confianza (IC) y valores p. Resultados. Se incluyeron 11 estudios observacionales. La alteración de mayor frecuencia en APs fue la resorción del PFDM con una prevalencia del 16%. El compromiso del PFDM en sujetos con onicopatía psoriásica fue mayor que en sujetos sin compromiso ungueal (OR=2.91; IC95%: 1.04-8.13; p=0.04), siendo las erosiones y la esclerosis los hallazgos de mayor importancia. Conclusión. La evidencia actual acerca del compromiso del PFDM en APs y psoriasis es limitada. Existe relación entre las alteraciones del PFDM y la patología ungueal en donde las erosiones y la esclerosis son las anormalidades más significativas.

Abstract Introduction: The distal phalanx tuft of the hand (DPTH) is a bone structure that undergoes subtle changes in various musculoskeletal diseases. To date, the type and frequency of DPTH injuries involved in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are unknown. Objective: To determine the abnormal findings related to DPTH through plain X-rays in adult subjects with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Materials and methods: A systematic review of radiographic alterations of the DPTH detected in plain hand radiographs was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. The prevalence of findings was summarized using a fixed effects model. Statistical associations were expressed as odds ratio (OR) with confidence intervals (CI) and p values. Results: Eleven observational studies were included. The most frequent alteration in PsA was DPTH resorption with a prevalence of 16%. The involvement of DPTH in subjects with psoriatic onicopathy was higher than in subjects without ungueal affectation (OR=2.91, 95%CI: 1.04-8.13; p=0.04), being erosions and sclerosis the most important findings. Conclusion: Current evidence regarding DPTH involvement in PsA and psoriasis is limited. However, an apparent correlation between DPTH findings and ungual abnormalities could exist, where erosions and sclerosis are the most significant abnormalities.

ABSTRACT

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the skin and joints and has a multifactorial etiology. Recently, it has been suggested that Helicobacter pylori infection may contribute as a trigger for the development of the disease. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity in patients with psoriasis and to evaluate the relation between disease severity and H. pylori infection. METHODS: H. pylori infection was assessed in psoriatic patients and controls by using H. pylori IgG quantitative enzyme immunoassay (ELISA test). The patients were classified according to the severity of the disease (PASI score). RESULTS: One hundred and twenty six patients with psoriasis (73 females and 53 males); mean age 50.48 years; 65 patients (51.59%) had severe psoriasis, 40 (31.75%) moderate psoriasis and 21 (16.67%) mild psoriasis. Twenty one healthy volunteers included as a control group, mean age of 41.05 years, 13 females and 8 males. One hundred and eleven patients with psoriasis tested serologically, 80 (72.07%) were seropositive compared with 7 positive volunteers (33.33%; P=0.002). Forty-nine (75.38%) patients with severe psoriasis were positive, 25 (62.50%) with moderate psoriasis were positive and 6 (28.57%) with mild psoriasis were positive (P=0.045). Study limitations: none. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection influences the development of psoriasis and severity of the disease.