Italian National Registry of Alopecia Areata: an epidemiological study of 699 Italian patients.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease that affects the hair follicles of the scalp and the rest of the body causing hair loss. Due to the unpredictable course of AA and the different degrees of severity of hair loss, only a few well-designed clinical studies with a low number of patients are available. Also, there is no specific cure, but topical and systemic anti-inflammatory and immune system suppressant drugs are used for treatment. The need to create a global registry of AA, comparable and reproducible in all countries, has recently emerged. An Italian multicentric electronic registry is proposed as a model to facilitate and guide the recording of epidemiological and clinical data and to monitor the introduction of new therapies in patients with AA. METHODS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological data of patients with AA by collecting detailed information on the course of the disease, associated diseases, concomitant and previous events, and the clinical response to traditional treatments. Estimate the impact on the quality of life of patients. RESULTS: The creation of the National Register of AA has proven to be a valid tool for recording, with a standardized approach, epidemiological data, the trend of AA, response to therapies and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: AA is confirmed as a difficult hair disease to manage due to its unpredictable course and, in most cases, its chronic-relapsing course, capable of having a significant impact on the quality of life of patients.

Clinical characteristics and response to biological therapies for inverse psoriasis: a real-life comparison between the therapeutic effects of anti-IL-23 and anti-IL-17 agents.

BACKGROUND: Inverse psoriasis (IP) is a variant of plaque psoriasis involving flexor surfaces. A clear definition of IP is still lacking. Therapy is based on topical and systemic treatments, including classic systemic drugs and biologic agents, but a well-defined therapeutic strategy is absent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study investigated the general characteristics of patients with IP or vulgar psoriasis and compared the effectiveness of anti-interleukin-17 or anti-interleukin-23 agents in the same groups. Second, treatment effectiveness and the demographic characteristics of IP patients treated with IL-23 and IL-17 inhibitors were also compared. IP patients were included if they had specific psoriatic involvement of the axillary, inguinal, or submammary lines, breast folds, antecubital and popliteal pits, intergluteal fold, and perianal area. Patients with vulgar plaque psoriasis and concomitant intertriginous involvement were included in the vulgar psoriasis cohort. RESULTS: Patients with IP were prevalently female and treated with IL-17 inhibitors compared to those with vulgar psoriasis. They also had a greater risk of drug discontinuation and subsequent therapeutical switch (32.1% vs. 18.1%, P = 0.002). At later time points, those with IP showed progressively slower achievement of PASI100 and 90 compared to the cohort with vulgar psoriasis. In the IP cohort, there was greater joint involvement in patients treated with an anti-IL-17 agent (P = 0.011), who also had a lower median age of onset (P = 0.011) compared to patients treated with an anti-IL-23 agent. Patients with IP treated with an anti-IL-23 agent initiated with a lower mean PASI and showed a slower response than patients on an anti-IL-17 agent. At later time points, progressively greater effectiveness of IL-23 inhibitors was observed compared to IL-17 inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IP responded less to biologic agents than those with vulgar psoriasis. In the IP cohort, IL-17 inhibitors had a faster onset than IL-23 inhibitors, but long-term anti-IL-23 agents seem to be associated with better outcomes.

Prognostic biomarkers in melanoma: a 2023 update from clinical trials in different therapeutic scenarios.

INTRODUCTION: Over the past decade, significant advancements in the field of melanoma have included the introduction of a new staging system and the development of immunotherapy and targeted therapies, leading to changes in substage classification and impacting patient prognosis. Despite these strides, early detection remains paramount. The quest for dependable prognostic biomarkers is ongoing, given melanoma's unpredictable nature, especially in identifying patients at risk of relapse. Reliable biomarkers are critical for informed treatment decisions. AREAS COVERED: This review offers a comprehensive review of prognostic biomarkers in the context of clinical trials for immunotherapy and targeted therapy. It explores different clinical scenarios, including adjuvant, metastatic, and neo-adjuvant settings. Key findings suggest that tumor mutational burden, PD-L1 expression, IFN-γ signature, and immune-related factors are promising biomarkers associated with improved treatment responses. EXPERT OPINION: Identifying practical prognostic factors for melanoma therapy is challenging due to the tumor's heterogeneity. Promising biomarkers include tumor mutational burden (TMB), circulating tumor DNA, and those characterizing the tumor microenvironment, especially the immune component. Future research should prioritize large-scale, prospective studies to validate and standardize these biomarkers, emphasizing clinical relevance and real-world applicability. Easily accessible biomarkers have the potential to enhance the precision and effectiveness of melanoma management.

Eosinophilic Dermatosis of Hematologic Malignancy: Emerging Evidence for the Role of Insect Bites-A Retrospective Clinico-Pathological Study of 35 Cases.

Background/Objectives: Eosinophilic dermatosis of hematologic malignancy (EDHM) is a rare cutaneous disorder associated with various hematologic malignancies, most commonly chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Detailed clinicopathologic studies of EDHM are lacking and the pathogenesis remains enigmatic. Initially thought to be a hypersensitivity reaction to insect stings, subsequent reports have challenged this understanding. The prognostic implications of EDHM remain unclear. Methods: A retrospective clinicopathologic study was performed on patients diagnosed with EDHM. Hematologic and dermatologic data were reviewed. Histologic specimens were re-evaluated and lesions were classified into acute/subacute, fully developed, and chronic/regressing. Results: The study included 35 patients. In 80% of these patients, EDHM was diagnosed after the hematologic disorder. Approximately 45% of the cohort experienced hematologic disease progression or relapse, while 65% required therapeutic intervention during the course of their hematologic disease. In total, 15/19 CLL patients had non-mutated IgHV, a marker of a more aggressive hematologic disease course. Dermatologic lesion morphology was heterogeneous, with most lesions occurring on exposed areas, and a significant 94% of patients demonstrated lesion seasonality. Histopathologic findings were consistent with features typically associated with insect bites. In addition, examination of lesions at different chronological stages revealed substantial similarities with Wells syndrome. Conclusions: Our findings support the potential role of insect bites in triggering EDHM in the context of adaptive immune dysfunction. EDHM may be associated with a more aggressive disease course or may be a marker of disease progression. The observed co-occurrence of features typical of Wells syndrome in EDHM patients suggests that these conditions are part of a spectrum of disorders that vary in clinical expression.

Italian S3-Guideline on the treatment of Atopic Eczema - Part 1: Systemic therapy, adapted from EuroGuiDerm by the Italian Society of Dermatology and STD (SIDEMAST), the Italian Association of Hospital Dermatologists (ADOI) and the Italian Society of Allergological and Environmental Dermatology (SIDAPA).

SIDeMaST (Società Italiana di Dermatologia Medica, Chirurgica, Estetica e delle Malattie Sessualmente Trasmesse) contributed to the development of the present guideline on the systemic treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. With the permission of EuroGuiDerm, SIDeMaST adapted the guideline to the Italian healthcare context to supply a reliable and affordable tool to Italian physicians who take care of patients affected by atopic dermatitis. The evidence- and consensus-based guideline on atopic eczema was developed in accordance with the EuroGuiDerm Guideline and Consensus Statement Development Manual. Four consensus conferences were held between December 2020 and July 2021. Twenty-nine experts (including clinicians and patient representatives) from 12 European countries participated. This first part of the guideline includes general information on its scope and purpose, the health questions covered, target users and a methods section. It also provides guidance on which patients should be treated with systemic therapies, as well as recommendations and detailed information on each systemic drug. The systemic treatment options discussed in the guideline comprise conventional immunosuppressive drugs (azathioprine, ciclosporin, glucocorticosteroids, methotrexate and mycophenolate mofetil), biologics (dupilumab, lebrikizumab, nemolizumab, omalizumab and tralokinumab) and janus kinase inhibitors (abrocitinib, baricitinib and upadacitinib). Part two of the guideline will address avoidance of provocation factors, dietary interventions, immunotherapy, complementary medicine, educational interventions, occupational and psychodermatological aspects, patient perspective and considerations for pediatric, adolescent, pregnant and breastfeeding patients.

Italian S3-Guideline on the treatment of Atopic Eczema - First Update, adapted from EuroGuiDerm by the Italian Society of Dermatology and STD (SIDEMAST), the Italian Association of Hospital Dermatologists (ADOI) and the Italian Society of Allergological and Occupational Dermatology (SIDAPA).

The evidence- and consensus-based guideline on atopic eczema, published in JEADV on 18 August 2022 (part 1) and 3 September 2022 (part 2) was developed in accordance with the EuroGuiDerm Guideline and Consensus Statement Development Manual. Four consensus conferences were held between December 2020 and July 2021. Twenty-nine experts (including clinicians and patient representatives) from 12 European countries participated. To reflect the most recent evidence on novel systemic medications, an update was published in October 2022. According to the purpose of the Italian Society of Dermatology and STD (SIDEMAST), the Italian Association of Hospital Dermatologists (ADOI) and the Italian Society of Allergological and Environmental Dermatology (SIDAPA) to adapt the EuroGuiDerm guideline on the treatment of atopic eczema into the Italian Healthcare setting, the original update has been supplemented by inserting notes, well highlighted by the original text, to emphasize the laws, rules, procedures and suggestions of the Italian Ministry of Health and regional Health authorities.

Italian S3-Guideline on the treatment of Atopic Eczema - Part 2: non-systemic treatments and treatment recommendations for special AE patient populations, adapted from EuroGuiDerm by the Italian Society of Dermatology and STD (SIDEMAST), the Italian Association of Hospital Dermatologists (ADOI) and the Italian Society of Allergological and Occupational Dermatology (SIDAPA).

SIDeMaST (Società Italiana di Dermatologia Medica, Chirurgica, Estetica e delle Malattie Sessualmente Trasmesse) contributed to the development of the present guideline on the systemic treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. With the permission of EuroGuiDerm, SIDeMaST adapted the guideline to the Italian healthcare context to supply a reliable and affordable tool to Italian physicians who take care of patients affected by atopic dermatitis. The evidence- and consensus-based guideline on atopic eczema was developed in accordance with the EuroGuiDerm Guideline and Consensus Statement Development Manual. Four consensus conferences were held between December 2020 and July 2021. Twenty-nine experts (including clinicians and patient representatives) from 12 European countries participated. This second part of the guideline includes recommendations and detailed information on basic therapy with emollients and moisturizers, topical anti-inflammatory treatment, antimicrobial and antipruritic treatment and UV phototherapy. Furthermore, this part of the guideline covers techniques for avoiding provocation factors, as well as dietary interventions, immunotherapy, complementary medicine and educational interventions for patients with atopic eczema and deals with occupational and psychodermatological aspects of the disease. It also contains guidance on treatment for pediatric and adolescent patients and pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as considerations for patients who want to have a child. A chapter on the patient perspective is also provided. The first part of the guideline, published separately, contains recommendations and guidance on systemic treatment with conventional immunosuppressive drugs, biologics and janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, as well as information on the scope and purpose of the guideline, and a section on guideline methodology.

Paediatric onset lymphomatoid papulosis: results of a multicentre retrospective cohort study, on behalf of the EORTC Cutaneous Lymphoma Tumours Group (CLTG).

BACKGROUND: Lymphomatoid Papulosis (LyP) is a rare cutaneous T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Comprehensive data on LyP in the paediatric population is scarce. OBJECTIVES: To characterize epidemiological, clinical, histopathological, and prognostic features of paediatric LyP. METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicentre international cohort study including 87 cases of children and adolescents with LyP diagnosed between 1998 and 2022. Patients aged ≤ 18 years old at disease onset were included. Diagnosis was made in each centre based on clinical-pathological correlation. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients from 12 centres were included. The mean age at onset was 7.0 years (range 3 months-18 years) with a male to female ratio of 2:1. The mean time between onset of first cutaneous lesions and diagnosis was 1.3 years (range 0-14 years). Initial misdiagnosis concerned 26.4% of patients. Initially, LyP was most often misdiagnosed as Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA), insect bites, or mollusca contagiosa. Erythematous papules or papulonodules were the most frequent clinical presentation. Pruritus was specifically mentioned for 20.7% of patients. The main histological subtype was type A in 55.1% of the cases. If analysed, monoclonal TCR rearrangement was found in 76.5% of the skin biopsies. The overall survival rate was 100% with follow up at 5 years available for 33 patients and at 15 years for 8 patients. A development of associated haematological malignancy (HM) occurred in 9.6% of the cases (7/73), including four mycosis fungoides (MF) cases, one primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pc-ALCL), one systemic ALCL and one case of acute myeloid leukaemia. If we compare incidence rates of cancer with the world 0-19 years old population from 2001-2010, we estimate a significantly higher risk of associated malignancy in general, occurring before the age of 19 years old with incidence rate ratio of 87.49 (CI 86.01-88.99). CONCLUSIONS: We report epidemiological data from a large international cohort of children and adolescents with LyP. Overall the prognosis of the disease is good, with excellent survival rates for all patients. Due to increased risk of associated HM, a long-term follow-up should be recommended for LyP patients.

Real-world study on the use of pegylated interferon alpha-2a for treatment of mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome using Time to Next Treatment as a measure of clinical benefit: An EORTC CLTG study.

INTRODUCTION: Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are chronic malignant diseases that typically necessitate diverse strategies to achieve remission. Systemic interferon alpha (IFN-α, subtypes 2a and 2b) has been used for MF/SS since 1984, however its production was recently stopped and so the recombinant pegylated (PEG) form of IFN α-2a remains as single IFN alternative treatment, even though not approved for MF/SS. OBJECTIVE: To assess effectiveness and safety of PEG IFN α-2a in monotherapy and in combination with other treatments using time to next treatment (TTNT) as a measure of clinical therapeutic benefit in real world setting. METHODS: We conducted an international and multicenter retrospective study of patients with MF and SS at any stage, treated with PEG IFN α-2a, from July 2012 to February 2022. Patients were included across 11 centers in 10 countries. Primary endpoints were to determine TTNT of PEG IFN α-2a and the adverse events (AE) in MF/SS. RESULTS: In total 105 patients were included, mean age was 61 (22-86 years); 42 (40%) with disease stage IA-IIA, 63 (60%) with stage IIB-IVB. PEG IFN α-2a was combined with other therapies in 67 (64%) patients, usually with extracorporeal photopheresis (36%) and bexarotene (22%). Fifty-seven percent of stage I-IIA patients achieved ORR, whereas 51% of stage IIB-IVB. Combination therapy showed a TTNT of 10.4 months, while 7 months in monotherapy (p=0.0099). Overall, TTNT was 9.2 months, ORR was 53% (56/105), CR and PR were 13% and 40%, respectively.AE were described in 69% (72) of the patients. Flu-like symptoms (27%), lymphopenia (23%) and elevated liver function (10%) were the most frequently reported. Grade 3-4 adverse events were reported in 23 (21%) patients, which were mostly related to myelosuppression. LIMITATIONS: retrospective data analysis and unrestricted number of combination therapies. CONCLUSIONS: PEG IFN α-2a for MF/SS showed ORR of 53%, TTNT of 9.2 months, superiority of combination regimens in comparison to monotherapy and doses of 180 mcg/weekly related to higher ORR.

Consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of sclerosing diseases of the skin, Part 2: Scleromyxoedema and scleroedema.

The term 'sclerosing diseases of the skin' comprises specific dermatological entities, which have fibrotic changes of the skin in common. These diseases mostly manifest in different clinical subtypes according to cutaneous and extracutaneous involvement and can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from each other. The present consensus provides an update to the 2017 European Dermatology Forum Guidelines, focusing on characteristic clinical and histopathological features, diagnostic scores and the serum autoantibodies most useful for differential diagnosis. In addition, updated strategies for the first- and advanced-line therapy of sclerosing skin diseases are addressed in detail. Part 2 of this consensus provides clinicians with an overview of the diagnosis and treatment of scleromyxoedema and scleroedema (of Buschke).

Immunotherapy in cutaneous melanoma and biologics in psoriatic disease: similarities and differences from a clinical multidisciplinary perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Immunomodulating therapies harness the power of the immune system to combat disease. In advanced melanoma, immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly improved survival outcomes by activating the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. In psoriasis, interleukin inhibitors effectively suppress inflammation and improve disease symptoms. AREAS COVERED: We provide a meta-opinion-based consensus paper on the analogies and differences in treatment mechanisms, duration, frequency between immunotherapy for advanced melanoma and biologics for psoriasis. Combining the current scientific evidence with expert insights, we provide valuable guidance for future research and decision-making processes. EXPERT OPINION: The development of immunological treatments in melanoma and psoriasis has revolutionized dermatology, but the quest for tailored therapies that maximize efficacy continues. Managing cutaneous exacerbations during melanoma immunotherapy in psoriatic patients remains challenging. Similarly, treating oncologic psoriasis patients resistant to traditional therapies requires individualized approaches. Research is needed to identify response predictors in both conditions and address the sustainability of healthcare systems due to the high cost of biologics. Drug delay studies for psoriasis and longer follow-up evaluations after immunotherapy discontinuation in melanoma are essential for optimizing treatment outcomes and resource allocation.