0000000000223445
AUTHOR
Claudio Guarneri
HIDRAdisk: validation of an innovative visual tool to assess the burden of hidradenitis suppurativa
Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful inflamed nodules, recurrent abscesses and fistulas located in apocrine gland–bearing body sites. The negative impact of HS on patient's quality of life (QoL) has been reported to be greater than other dermatologic conditions as psoriasis and atopic eczema, and its improvement is an important goal in disease management. Nowadays, there are no specific validated QoL instruments available for HS and generic dermatologic questionnaires are used. Objective: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the validity, reliability and responsiveness of HIDRAdisk, a new innovative t…
The future: critical knowledge about anti-itch therapy.
: Itch is an extremely frequent and enervating symptom of many diseases. Current anti-itch therapy, which is based almost exclusively on an “immunocentric” viewpoint, is often unsatisfactory. Recent studies show that this symptom is in fact the result of a complex interplay among skin, nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system. This explains the frequent failure of therapeutic strategies focused only on a single factor and suggests the usefulness of a polypharmacologic symptomatic treatment, designed on a case-by-case basis as a result of a multidisciplinary approach. We discuss the perspectives of anti-itch therapy in light of the new pathogenetic and pharmacologic acquisitions.
Hepatitis Virus Reactivation in Patients with Psoriasis Treated with Secukinumab in a Real-World Setting of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C Infection
Background and Objective Biologics for psoriasis, especially anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapies, may reactivate hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, as well in inactive carriers or patients with occult infection. However, some biologics, including anti-interleukin-17 therapies such as secukinumab, seem to be less likely to cause hepatitis reactivation. This study assessed the safety of secukinumab treatment in patients with psoriasis with HBV or HBC infection. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with secukinumab at seven Italian centers. Patients serologically positive for one or more of the fo…
Lack of reactivation of tuberculosis in patients with psoriasis treated with secukinumab in a real-world setting of latent tuberculosis infection
Background Some biologics for psoriasis, especially anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha therapies, may re-activate latent tuberculosis (TBC) infection with consequent morbidity and mortality. However, there is a low reported incidence of conversion to positive TBC status among patients with psoriasis treated with second-generation biologic therapies, particularly anti-interleukin (IL)-17 therapies such as secukinumab. Objectives To evaluate the safety profile of secukinumab in psoriasis patients with latent TBC infection. Methods Real-life data were collected by retrospective chart review on patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who showed positivity for TBC screening at baseline an…
Update on the Management of Pediatric Psoriasis: An Italian Consensus
Introduction Psoriasis affects children with a considerable burden in early life. Treating pediatric psoriasis is challenging also because of the lack of updated specific guidelines. With the recent approval of several biologics for pediatric psoriasis and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the management of young psoriatic patients is facing major changes. A revision of treatment recommendations is therefore needed. Methods In September 2021, a board of six Italian dermatologists convened to update treatment recommendations. The board issued evidence- and consensus-based statements covering relevant areas of pediatric psoriasis, namely: assessment of psoriasis severity, management of children …
Klebsiella oxitoca folliculitis mimicking tinea barbae in a diabetic man
A 55-year-old male dairy farmer was admitted to our hospital with a skin infection on the neck and face. He was apparently in good general health, and his medical history was unremarkable. He reported that, 50 days before admission, a pruritic red maculopapular rash had developed on the anterior region of his neck. This rash failed to improve after a 10-day course of trimethoprim-sufamethoxazole and fluconazole; rather it progressively worsened. On admission, examination revealed confluent follicular papulae-pustules with purulent-hematic exudation and crusting, on an erythematous-edematous area extending over the anterior region of the neck, chin and mandible (Fig. 1); hairs within the aff…
Management of biological therapies for chronic plaque psoriasis during COVID-19 emergency in Italy
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, is creating an unprecedented global public health emergency with the continuous growth of infected individuals worldwide. Italy was one of the first European country to face the first wave of infection outside mainland China. The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Lombardy on February 20th , 2020, and subsequently, a rapid increase in the number of detected cases was observed, spreading through Italy and the rest of Europe.3 As of April 22nd , confirmed COVID-19 cases in Italy were 183,957.