Atorvastatin as adjunctive therapy for chronic plaque type psoriasis versus betamethasone valerate alone: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a T helper 1 cell-mediated chronic inflammation. Statins have been found to have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects targeting T helper 1 cells and thus, are being investigated as treatments for psoriasis. AIMS: To investigate the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin as adjunctive treatment for mild to moderate chronic plaque psoriasis; and the impact of atorvastatin on quality of life. The study also aimed to correlate the beneficial effects of atorvastatin with its lipid-lowering effects. METHODS: Twenty-eight (19-65 year old) mild-moderate chronic plaque psoriasis patients were randomly assigned to two groups (treatment group: atorvastatin 40 mg OD; control group: placebo OD) and followed up for 6 months. All were allowed to use betamethasone valerate 0.1% ointment twice a day for a maximum of 3 weeks continuous application with 1-week rest periods in between. Primary outcome measures were the mean percentage reduction in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores and percentage of patients achieving PASI-50. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (treatment: 6, control: 8) completed the trial. Mean reductions in PASI scores between the treatment (2.15 ± 2.17) and control (1.69 ± 2.36) groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.636). Intention-to-treat analysis of PASI-50 showed increased risk of treatment failure with atorvastatin as adjunct but estimates were not significant. Changes in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores (P = 0.214) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0.884) were likewise not statistically significant. Reductions in PASI scores were not linearly correlated with reductions in total cholesterol (P = 0.924), triglycerides (P = 0.274), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P = 0.636), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P = 0.584), or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (P = 0.906). Adverse effects in the treatment group were transient elevated transaminases (n = 1) and mild myalgia (n = 1). LIMITATIONS: A 50% dropout rate was experienced. This remarkably high dropout rate decreases the robustness of the study results. CONCLUSIONS: Although atorvastatin exhibited earlier percentage reduction in PASI scores, it was not able to produce an additional benefit compared to psoriatic patients applying steroid alone.

The great mimic: A six-year retrospective study on mycosis fungoides and the use of histologic criteria to define adequacy of treatment

BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Diagnosis relies on clinicopathological correlation. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinicodemographic characteristics of patients with MF and to identify histologic criteria that will signify adequate treatment. METHODS: Registries from years 2004 to 2009 were searched for biopsy-proven MF. Charts were retrieved and clinicodemographic data gathered. Pre- and post-treatment biopsy slides were reviewed by a dermatopathologist blinded to the patients's treatment status. Pre-selected histologic criteria were evaluated for each slide. Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used to analyze for statistical significance of each criteria. RESULTS: There were 34 biopsy-proven MF from years 2004 to 2009. Male-to-female ratio was 1:1.8. Mean age at initial diagnosis was 46.7 years (13-81). Among the 16 patients with fully retrievable records, the most common presentation was that of hypopigmented patches. Age ? 60 years seemed to have significant association with relapse (P=0.02). Epidermotropism of ? 5 (P=0.03), absent to focal lymphocyte tagging (P=0.04), and dropping of haloed lymphocytes from >10 to ? 10 (P=0.01) somehow differentiated treated from untreated MF. CONCLUSIONS: The hypopigmented variant of MF may be more common in Asian countries. Age ? 60 years old may be associated with higher risk of relapse. Grading epidermotropism, lymphocyte tagging and haloed lymphocytes may be helpful in determining adequacy of treatment of MF. However, given the small sample size of the present study, future larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.