The Effects of Methotrexate and Biologics on the Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Psoriasis.

Background: In patients with psoriasis, psychiatric co-morbidities accompany quite frequently. Aims and Objectives: We aimed to compare the effects of methotrexate and biologics on psychiatric comorbidities, and also examine the relationship of these symptoms with systemic inflammation parameters. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients with psoriasis treated with biologics or methotrexate were enrolled. At the baseline and the 24th week of the treatment, the patients filled Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), inflammation was assessed with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels. Results: The decrease in BAI and BDI scores at the 24th week was significant in both the groups. When the decrease in BAI and BDI scores of the two groups were compared, no significant differences were found between the groups. The decrease in DLQI scores of the patients who received biologics was significantly superior compared to the patients who received methotrexate (P = 0.007). There was no significant correlation between the change in serum inflammation parameters and the decrease in the BDI/BAI scores. Conclusions: In patients with psoriasis, biologics and methotrexate reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. The difference between the two groups was insignificant. Biologics improve the quality of life better than methotrexate. Systemic inflammation parameters do not reflect the changes in these symptoms in such patients.

Bullous Pemphigoid Associated with Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: A Multicenter Study in Istanbul.

Objectives: Recent studies have revealed an association between dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) and development of bullous pemphigoid (BP). The main aim of our study is to evaluate the association between DPP4i treatment and BP development. The secondary endpoints were to evaluate clinical characteristics and biochemical parameters of the DPP4i associated BP cases and determine the differences of DPP4i associated BP disease than non-DPP4i associated BP cases. Methods: We designed a retrospective case-control study, comparing type 2 diabetic 58 BP cases to 75 type 2 diabetic controls. Data were collected from three dermatological departments in Istanbul/Turkey, from November 1, 2008, to January 1, 2019. Medical records of each patient's demographic, clinical characteristics, drugs used, and laboratory data were reviewed. Results: There was no statistical difference in age and gender between the patient and control group. The most common prescribed oral antidiabetic for both groups was metformin. The most commonly prescribed DPP4i was vildagliptin. Fourteen (24.1%) out of 58 diabetic patients with BP were using vildagliptin, 12 (20.7%) out of 58 diabetic BP patients were using linagliptin, 6 (10.3%) out of 58 diabetic BP patients were using sitagliptin, and 1 (1.7%) out of 58 diabetic BP patients were using saxagliptin. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the DPP4 is use (using DPPi at the time of diagnosis and not). Both groups had similar clinical characteristics, localizations, disease severity, comorbidities, treatment responses, and biochemical parameters. BP patients using DPP4i had statistically less mucosal involvement than BP patients not using DPP4i (p=0.044). Conclusion: Even though there was no difference between two groups, when BP develops in diabetic patients, DPP4 is should be questioned and with cooperation with clinician's consideration of change may be planned.

Evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and side effects of secukinumab in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis: real-world data from a retrospective multicenter study

Abstract Background: Clinical studies have demonstrated that IL-17A inhibition with secukinumab is effective for clearing the skin of patients with psoriasis and has a favorable safety profile. Objective: The authors aim to determine whether secukinumab is effective and safe for the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic psoriasis based on clinical experience with this drug. Method: The authors conducted a multicenter retrospective study in nine referral centers and included patients with psoriasis who had received secukinumab between March 2018 to November 2020. Data on demographic characteristics, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, and previous treatments were collected from medical records. Patients were evaluated at 12, 24, and 52 weeks with respect to response to treatment and side effects. Results: In total, 229 patients were recruited for the study. A PASI score improvement of ≥90 points over the baseline was achieved by 79%, 69.8%, and 49.3% of patients at weeks 12, 24, and 52, respectively. The most common adverse events wereCandida infections and fatigue. In total, 74 (32%) patients discontinued treatment by week 52, including due to adverse events, or secondary ineffectiveness. Study limitations: Retrospective design. Conclusions: These findings suggest that secukinumab therapy is reasonably effective in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Comorbidities and time length of the disease can affect the response to treatment. The rates of adverse events were high in this patient population.

Evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and side effects of secukinumab in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis: real-world data from a retrospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies have demonstrated that IL-17A inhibition with secukinumab is effective for clearing the skin of patients with psoriasis and has a favorable safety profile. OBJECTIVE: The authors aim to determine whether secukinumab is effective and safe for the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic psoriasis based on clinical experience with this drug. METHOD: The authors conducted a multicenter retrospective study in nine referral centers and included patients with psoriasis who had received secukinumab between March 2018 to November 2020. Data on demographic characteristics, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, and previous treatments were collected from medical records. Patients were evaluated at 12, 24, and 52 weeks with respect to response to treatment and side effects. RESULTS: In total, 229 patients were recruited for the study. A PASI score improvement of ≥90 points over the baseline was achieved by 79%, 69.8%, and 49.3% of patients at weeks 12, 24, and 52, respectively. The most common adverse events wereCandida infections and fatigue. In total, 74 (32%) patients discontinued treatment by week 52, including due to adverse events, or secondary ineffectiveness. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that secukinumab therapy is reasonably effective in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Comorbidities and time length of the disease can affect the response to treatment. The rates of adverse events were high in this patient population.

Undesirable repigmentation in vitiligo patient receiving methotrexate therapy for the treatment of psoriasis: treatment or side effect?

Vitiligo is an acquired skin depigmentation disorder related to the destruction of melanocytes. There are a limited number of case reports and studies in current literature that show methotrexate (MTX) is effective in the treatment. A 44-year-old man presented to our clinic with a one-year history of psoriasis. On dermatological examination, there were erythematous, scaly papules and plaques on knees, elbows, gluteal area, and scalp compatible with psoriasis. In addition there was total depigmentation over the body. He had a 30-year history of vitiligo, beginning localized but progressed gradually and covered the entire body surface. Subcutaneous methotrexate 10mg weekly was started for psoriasis. On the 6th week of methotrexate treatment, he presented to our clinic with newly developed brown macules on his face. The result of the punch biopsy taken from a macule was reported as normal skin findings. Because his body was fully depigmented, his brown melanocytic macules on his face were considered as repigmentation associated with MTX treatment. His MTX treatment was stopped by patient request. On his 6-month follow-up, hypopigmentation was observed at prior repigmented macules. Methotrexate can be considered an alternative treatment for vitiligo patients when topical therapy and phototherapy are ineffective or not applicable.

Mucocutaneous Manifestations of People Living with HIV in Current Antiretroviral Therapy Era.

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that approximately 90 % of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have various cutaneous symptoms related to the virus. This study aims to describe the cutaneous disorders that have developed in HIV-infected patients and to investigate the factors that may be related, such as relationships to drug use and CD4 counts. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included people living with HIV and being followed by our hospital's infectious diseases clinic after being referred to the dermatology clinic because of skin lesions. These patients had been diagnosed with HIV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests and were included in the study if they were older than 18 years and had agreed to participate. Findings from detailed dermatological examinations were recorded, along with the patients' CD4 counts, the durations of their illnesses, and the treatments they received. RESULTS: 144 patients were included in the study. The most common mucocutaneous manifestation was seborrheic dermatitis, at 28.5 % (n = 41). The mean CD4 count was 607.1 (min-max = 10.6- 1982). The CD4 counts were divided into three groups in the study as follows: 22 (15.3 %) patients with <200, 35 (24.3 seborrheic dermatitis) patients between 200 and 500, and 87 (60.4 %) patients with >500. There were no statistical differences between these groups in terms of dermatological findings. Nevertheless, the highest rate of patients with three or more dermatological conditions was found among those with CD4 counts <200 (n = 11.50 %). CONCLUSION: Skin manifestations are common in patients who are HIV-positive; however, many skin disorders can be seen in HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients whatever CD4 cell counts of these patients are.

Tattoos: Demographics, Motivations, and Regret in Dermatology Patients.

Background: Tattoos are very popular in today's world. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the demographics, the characteristics of tattoos, motivations for getting tattoos, tattooing practices and tattoo regret. Materials and Method: This multi-centre, cross-sectional study was conducted among. 302 patients attending to the dermatology outpatient clinics and having at least one tattoo. A questionnaire form including all needed data about patients, tattoo characteristics and possible reasons for obtaining tattoos was designed and applied to all participants. Results: Of 302 patients, 140 (46,4%) were females and 162 (53,6%) were men. The mean age was28,3 ± 8,1 years (min-max, 16-62) for all study group, 53% of participants (n = 160) had at least one tattoo involving letters or number, 80 participants (26%) stated regret for at least one of their tattoos, and 34 of them (42,5%) had their unwanted tattoo removed or camouflaged with a new tattoo. The most common reason for regret was 'not liking the tattoo anymore'. The most common motivations for having tattoos were 'to feel independent', 'to feel better about himself/herself' and 'to look good'. Women had higher scores than men regarding tattoo motivations of 'to be an individual' and 'to have a beauty mark'. Conclusion: Given the rates, tattoo regret is a significant issue and as motivations differ between genders, age groups and other demographic characteristics; tattoos are not just an ink or drawing on the body, but a tool for individuals to express themselves and to construct self-identity. Tattoos have deep symbolic meanings for emotions, and they may be a clue for behavioural patterns of individuals.

The effect of oral isotretinoin therapy on meibomian gland morphology and dry eye tests.

PURPOSE: The aim of study was to evaluate the effects of oral isotretinoin on meibomian gland (MG) morphology detected with non-contact meibography and to investigate its relation with clinical dry eye tests. METHODS: Forty-five acne patients treated with isotretinoin underwent a full ophthalmological examination at baseline and in the fourth month as follows: ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, assessments of tear film break-up time (TFBUT), corneal fluorescein staining, Schirmer test, meibum expression, and lid margin abnormalities. Non-contact meibography imaging and noninvasive tear break up time (NI-BUT) assessments were also performed. The changes in MGs were scored (meibography score) as grade 0, no change; grade 1, mild; grade 2, moderate; and grade 3, marked. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant change in OSDI, corneal fluorescein staining, lid margin abnormality, and meibum expression score during the treatment compared to baseline values (p < .001, p = .02, p < .001, and p < .001, respectively). All meibography scores showed a positive correlation with the lid margin abnormality and meibum expression score but did not correlate with the TFBUT, NI-BUT, Schirmer test, or the corneal fluorescein staining score. CONCLUSION: The morphologic analysis using non-contact meibography is a useful method for assessing isotretinoin-related changes in MGs.

Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Seborrheic Dermatitis: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Our knowledge of the systemic effects of seborrheic dermatitis (SD) as a chronic inflammatory skin disease remains limited. We aimed to evaluate metabolic syndrome (MS) and glucose metabolism disorders in patients with SD. Methods: The study includes 53 patients over the age of 18 diagnosed with SD and 50 age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls. Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure levels, family history of SD and metabolic disorder, smoking history, and severity of the disease in SD patients were obtained. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, lipid profile levels, and two-hour plasma glucose in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT 2-h PG), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and presence of MS were determined. Results: Weight, waist circumference, family history of SD, family history of metabolic disorder, and smoking status were significantly higher in the SD group compared with the control group (P = 0.04, P = 0.007, P = 0.004, P = 0.004, and P = 0.048, respectively). The levels of fasting plasma insulin and triglyceride, HOMA-IR and OGTT 2-h PG were also significantly higher in the SD group than in the control group (P = 0.0001, P = 0.033, P = 0.0001, and P = 0.049, respectively). In addition, the number of those with insulin resistance was significantly higher in the group with SD (n = 31, 58.49%) than in the control group (n = 11, 22%) (P = 0.0001). Although the rate of MS was higher in patients with SD (n = 12, 22.64%) than the controls (n = 6, 12%), the difference was not significant (P = 0.155). Conclusion: Our findings suggest an association between SD and insulin resistance, which may be due to their common inflammatory pathogenesis. This may be an indicator of susceptibility to diabetes, and these patients can be followed up for conditions associated with insulin resistance and encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

More than a skin disease: stress, depression, anxiety levels, and serum neurotrophins in lichen simplex chronicus

Abstract Background: Lichen simplex chronicus is a dermatological condition due to excessive scratching, with few studies on psychoneuroimmunology. Objective: We aimed to estimate the levels of stress, depression, and anxiety, and to measure serum levels of neurotrophins in patients with lichen simplex chronicus, and to correlate these parameters with the severity of the disease and pruritus. Methods: Thirty-six patients with lichen simplex chronicus and 36 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Each participant was administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Perceived Stress Scale questionnaires, along with a visual analog scale for pruritus. Levels of neurotrophins (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, nerve growth factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor) were determined by ELISA assays. Results: The scores of Perceived Stress Scale-10, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were statistically higher in patients (p < 0.05 for all). The serum levels of all neurotrophins were significantly lower in patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05 for all). Disease severity showed no correlation with all four neurotrophins. In linear regression models applied for increased visual analog scale-pruritus scores and disease severity these two variables were statistically significant predictors (p = 0.043). Study limitations: A direct causal relationship was not addressed. Conclusion: Lichen simplex chronicus patients are at risk of increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and present decreased levels of neurotrophins, that may suggest a role in the pathophysiology of this disorder.

A multicentre prospective analysis of the incidence of pemphigoid diseases in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The differentiation between the pemphigoid diseases is essential for treatment and prognosis. In Turkey, data on the incidence of these diseases are insufficient. Our aim in this study is to determine the incidence, demographics and clinical characteristics associated with diseases of the pemphigoid group. METHODS: We prospectively analysed 295 patients with pemphigoid who visited dermatology clinics of tertiary referral hospitals in 12 different regions of Turkey within a year. The diagnosis was based on clinical, histopathological, direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and serological (multivariant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], indirect immunofluorescence and mosaic-based BIOCHIP) examinations. Clinical and demographic findings, aetiological factors and concomitant diseases observed in the patients were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 295 (female/male ratio: 1.7/1) patients with pemphigoid were diagnosed in 1-year period. The overall incidence rate of pemphigoid diseases was found to be 3.55 cases per million-years. The ratio of pemphigoid group diseases to pemphigus group diseases was 1.6. The most common pemphigoid type was bullous pemphigoid (BP, 93.2%). The others were epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (3.1%), pemphigoid gestationis (2.4%), linear IgA disease (1%) and mucous membrane pemphigoid (0.3%). The most common (26.8%) possible trigger of the bullous pemphigoid was gliptin derivative drugs. The most common concomitant diseases with pemphigoid were cardiovascular (27.8%) and neurological diseases (23.7%). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the increased frequency of bullous pemphigoid reversed the pemphigoid/pemphigus ratio in Turkey. Further studies are warranted regarding the reasons for this increase.

More than a skin disease: stress, depression, anxiety levels, and serum neurotrophins in lichen simplex chronicus.

BACKGROUND: Lichen simplex chronicus is a dermatological condition due to excessive scratching, with few studies on psychoneuroimmunology. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to estimate the levels of stress, depression, and anxiety, and to measure serum levels of neurotrophins in patients with lichen simplex chronicus, and to correlate these parameters with the severity of the disease and pruritus. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with lichen simplex chronicus and 36 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Each participant was administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Perceived Stress Scale questionnaires, along with a visual analog scale for pruritus. Levels of neurotrophins (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, nerve growth factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor) were determined by ELISA assays. RESULTS: The scores of Perceived Stress Scale-10, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were statistically higher in patients (p < 0.05 for all). The serum levels of all neurotrophins were significantly lower in patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05 for all). Disease severity showed no correlation with all four neurotrophins. In linear regression models applied for increased visual analog scale-pruritus scores and disease severity these two variables were statistically significant predictors (p = 0.043). STUDY LIMITATIONS: A direct causal relationship was not addressed. CONCLUSION: Lichen simplex chronicus patients are at risk of increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and present decreased levels of neurotrophins, that may suggest a role in the pathophysiology of this disorder.

Evaluation of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Psoriasis Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to compare healthy lifestyle behaviors between psoriasis patients and healthy controls. METHODS: This case-control study included 80 psoriasis patients and 80 sex- and age- matched healthy controls aged over 18. Participants completed the socio-demographic data form and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II). The HPLP-II consists of 52 items and measures six components of health-promoting behavior outcomes: Nutrition, physical activity, health responsibility, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, and stress management. Higher scores show that the individual applies the specified health behaviors at a high level. RESULTS: HPLP-II total scores were 128.3±21.1 in patient group and 132.5±22.3 in control group. Based on the scores, psoriasis patients showed a moderate level of health-promoting lifestyle, while controls showed a good level of health-promoting lifestyle. Spiritual growth score of patients (mean±SD = 25.6±4.9) was statistically lower than the controls (mean±SD = 27.3±4.5) (p=0.040). In addition, spiritual growth score and disease duration were negatively correlated in the patient group (r=-0.287, p=0.01). Furthermore, nutrition score of those with additional comorbidity was significantly higher than those with psoriasis alone in patient group (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to compare healthy lifestyle behaviors of psoriasis patients and healthy volunteers in Turkish population. The task of dermatologists is not only the medical treatment of psoriasis lesions but also questioning patients' lifestyle behaviors and supporting the development of healthy behaviors in patients.

Drug survival and predictor factors for discontinuation of methotrexate in psoriasis: a real-life multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Drug survival is useful to evaluate long-term drug performance in daily practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate drug survival for methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy in patients with plaque-type psoriasis. METHODS: We reviewed 3,512 follow-up charts of patients with psoriasis at five tertiary referral centers between January 2012 and January 2020. We analyzed baseline data and treatment outcomes of patients under MTX monotherapy. Drug survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Patients with psoriasis who were treated with MTX monotherapy were enrolled (N = 649). The median duration of drug survival was 15 months (95% CI: 13.2-16.8). The overall drug survival rate was 54.7%, 17.4%, and 8% after 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The main reasons for discontinuation were adverse effects (n = 209, 32.2%) and inefficacy (n = 105, 15.6%). Based on multivariate Cox regression analysis, the presence of nausea/vomiting (HR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.49-2.71; P < 0.001) was observed as a statistically significant risk factor for drug discontinuation. Age over 50 years (HR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48-0.97; P = 0.03) and using MTX dose ≥15 mg/weekly were positive predictors for drug survival (HR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.54-0.95; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The average drug survival of MTX was 15 months. MTX is still the first-line treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, as highlighted in guidelines. To prevent premature discontinuation, physicians need to look at the response time of at least 16-24 weeks, especially when a stepwise dose increment is used. The presence of nausea/vomiting seemed to be associated with an approximately twofold risk of discontinuation.

Evaluation of fecal calprotectin as a marker of gastrointestinal inflammation in rosacea: A case-control study.

A higher incidence of gastrointestinal diseases has been well established in patients with rosacea. However, no screening tool has been introduced for gastrointestinal disease development in rosacea. Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a calcium-binding protein, mainly derived from polymorpho-nuclear cells, such as neutrophils. It has been established as a marker of gastrointestinal inflammation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate FC levels in patients with rosacea without any gastrointestinal diseases. A prospective, case-control study was planned to investigate the relationship between rosacea and gastrointestinal involvement by evaluating FC levels and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). A total of 47 patients with rosacea and 39 healthy control subjects were included in the study. The FC levels were statistically significantly higher in rosacea group than in the control group (65.96 ± 58.86 ng/mL vs 31.99 ± 20.12 ng/mL, P = .026, respectively). A statistically significant difference was also observed in GSRS values between the patient and the control groups (30.26 ± 12.48 vs 22.62 ± 7.64, P = .001, respectively). A positive correlation was noted between FC levels and the values of GSRS in the study group (r: 0.354; P = .001) and in the rosacea group (r = 0.392, P = .006). The measurement of FC may be useful in the early detection of gastrointestinal system diseases that may accompany rosacea and may provide a pathway to develop treatment strategies targeting both skin and intestinal mucosa.

Drug survival and safety profile of acitretin monotherapy in patients with psoriasis: A multicenter retrospective study.

Acitretin is a nonimmunosuppresive systemic agent used in the treatment of psoriasis. Despite its frequent use, research on drug survival and adverse effects is limited. This study aims to evaluate drug survival, factors associated with survival, and adverse effects. Database of the six tertiary referral center for psoriasis patients treated with acitretin between November 2014 and April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographics of patients, adverse effects, and also drug survival were analyzed. Of 412 patients, 61.2% were male, and 38.8% were female. Common clinical adverse effects were cheilitis (71.4%), dry skin (62.5%), and palmoplantar skin peeling (37.2%). High triglyceride and high total cholesterol levels were observed in 50.0% and 49.5% of patients, respectively. Median survival time (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 18 (13.6-22.4) months. Statistically significant risk factors affecting drug discontinuation were having psoriatic arthritis, age under 65, and receiving previous systemic treatment. Drug survival rates were 56.6%, 25.9%, and 19.8% at 1, 5, and 8 years, respectively. Although mucocutaneous adverse effects of the acitretin were quite frequent, severe, life-treatining ones were infrequent. This old, relatively inexpensive and safe treatment remains a good alternative for the treatment of psoriasis.

The impact of COVID-19 in patients with psoriasis: A multicenter study in Istanbul.

There is widespread concern about treatment of psoriasis in COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the epidemiological data, clinical characteristics, treatment features of the psoriasis patients during the pandemic period. We conducted a study in dermatology clinics of seven different tertiary centers. All adult psoriasis patients who were followed up between 11 March 2020 and 28 June 2020, were phone called or questioned in their visit to their follow-up clinics. A semistructured questionnaire was applied and patients' demographics and disease characteristics were recorded. Of 1322 patients, 52.4% were male, and 47.6% were female. According to the questionnaire responses, 964 (72.9%) of these patients could not communicate with their physician during this period, remained 358 (27.1%) patients contacted the physician by phone, email, or hospital visit. From the patients diagnosed as probable/confirmed COVID-19, 14 were female, and 9 were male. Nine of 23 (39.1%) patients were using biologic treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of hospitalization from COVID-19 between the patients using biologics (n = 9) and those who did not (n = 14) (P = 1.00). No mortality was observed among them. Obesity, smoking, age, and accompanying psoriatic arthritis were not among the risk factors affecting the frequency of COVID-19. We only encountered an increased risk in diabetic patients. Also, an exacerbation of psoriasis was observed with the infection. No difference was found in patients with psoriasis in terms of COVID-19 infection in patients who use biologics and those who don't.

Switching Biologics in the Treatment of Psoriasis: A Multicenter Experience.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to provide evidence on the treatment choices, reasons, and results of switching between biologic agents in treating patients with psoriasis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective database search of six tertiary referral centers for pso-riasis patients between January 2007 and May 2019. We analyzed patient and treatment characteristics of all patients in the registry. RESULTS: We enrolled 427 psoriatic patients treated with biologics, and 145 (34%) required a switch to another biologic. The reasons for discontinuing the first biologic agent were inefficacy (n = 106, 62.4%), adverse events (n = 28, 16.5%), and others (n = 36, 21.2%). At week 12, there was a 67.7% reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score of patients treated with their first biologic, and 51.4% reduction for the second. A drug survival analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the drug survival of first-line biologic agents, but ustekinumab had the highest survival rate among second-line biologics (log-rank p = 0.010). Multivariate analyses for overall drug discontinuation showed that the occurrence of psoriatic arthritis (OR: 1.883, 95% CI: 1.274-2.782, p = 0.001), nail involvement (OR: 2.334, 95% CI: 1.534-3.552, p < 0.001), and use of concomitant treatment (OR: 2.303, 95% CI: 1.403 -3.780, p = 0.001) are predictors for discontinuation. CONCLUSION: Discontinuation of treatment was most commonly due to inefficacy. Patients who switched to a different biologic agent showed a similar improvement in PASI scores compared to biologic-naive patients. Switching to a second biologic therapy due to inefficacy or adverse events caused by the first one may improve psoriasis.

The Association between Melatonin Levels and Sleep Quality in Patients with Pruritus: A Potential Biomarker on a Candidate Future Treatment.

Background: Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory roles. Aims: The aim of this study is to assess melatonin levels and investigate the association with pruritus severity, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms in dermatoses with nocturnal pruritus. Methods: The study was a prospective study with 82 participants, including 41 patients and 41 healthy volunteers. The visual analog scale (VAS), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were recorded for each patient. To assess the melatonin levels, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels in the first urine in the morning were measured. Results: Melatonin concentrations were significantly lower (P = 0.007), while the BDI (P = 0.001) and PSQI (P = 0.001) scores were significantly higher in the patients with pruritus than in the healthy control subjects. There was an inverse correlation between melatonin levels and PSQI scores (r = -0.355, P = 0.023), and a positive correlation was detected between BDI scores and PSQI scores (r = 0.631, P = 0.001) in the pruritus group. Conclusion: Melatonin levels were found to decrease in relation to sleep quality in nocturnal pruritus patients. Low melatonin levels in these patients may be associated with sleep disorders and pruritus.