ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common autoimmune disorders. In addition to chronic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis may present a variety of extra-articular manifestations, most commonly of the skin. OBJECTIVES: Cutaneous manifestations associated with rheumatoid arthritis can be diverse, both specific and nonspecific. Which dermatoses should lead you to the diagnosis of an underlying rheumatoid arthritis? METHODS: Evaluation of exemplary overviews, case presentations and relevant textbook articles. RESULTS: Rheumatoid arthritis presents various specific and nonspecific skin manifestations. Besides visual diagnosis like classic rheumatoid nodules a histopathologic correlation or an interdisciplinary approach is often needed, such as for diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum. CONCLUSIONS: The early detection and correct classification of cutaneous manifestations associated with rheumatoid arthritis can be groundbreaking for a successful therapy and a consequently better prognosis for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore dermatologists bear responsibility in the patient-centered care.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid , Pyoderma Gangrenosum , Rheumatoid Nodule , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis , Humans , SkinABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic skin disease with painful erythematous scaly or crusty lesions and pustules on the palms and soles. Apremilast is a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor that has proven effective in the therapy of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and in oral ulcers associated with Behcet's disease. OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of apremilast in PPP. METHODS: APLANTUS was a phase 2 single-arm multicentre study of apremilast in 21 subjects with moderate-to-severe PPP. Primary endpoint was the per cent change of the Palmoplantar Pustulosis Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PPPASI) at week 20 compared to baseline. RESULTS: 20 weeks of oral treatment with apremilast in patients with moderate-to-severe PPP resulted in a significant decrease of the PPPASI with a median reduction of 57.1% (p < 0.001), and 61.9% of patients achieved at least a 50% improvement of the PPPASI relative to baseline. The total number of pustules per patient decreased significantly relative to baseline with 76.2% of patients achieving at least a 50% reduction in total pustules count at week 20. Improvement of PPP was also apparent in a significant decrease of the dermatologic life quality index (DLQI). The median DLQI score dropped from 8.5 at baseline to 2.0 at week 20 (p = 0.030). Apremilast was generally well tolerated, and no serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PPP treated with apremilast showed benefit both in objective and subjective disease parameters. Apremilast should be investigated further in this difficult-to-treat skin condition. EudraCT number: 2016-005122-11.
Subject(s)
Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors , Psoriasis , Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous , Humans , Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Psoriasis/drug therapy , Severity of Illness Index , Thalidomide/adverse effects , Thalidomide/analogs & derivatives , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cutaneous adverse drug reactions are frequent and present with heterogenous clinical manifestations. METHODS AND RESULTS: Increasingly, case reports describe drug reactions which mimic dermatoses, although exact data on prevalence are missing. Psoriasiform, lichenoid and pityriasiform exanthems are most frequent. The differentiation of these variants from the respective authentic dermatoses is difficult and only a few clinical and histological criteria are helpful. Other dermatoses like lupus erythematosus or bullous autoimmune dermatoses (pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid) can be induced by drugs as well. These drug-triggered variations are classified as distinct subclasses of the respective dermatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Exact history and evaluation of the clinical course are essential for the diagnosis of drug reactions mimicking dermatoses and present an important challenge for the clinician. A clear-cut differentiation between the genuine dermatosis and its drug-driven simulator is not always possible.
