Giovanna Malara, Cristina Politi, Caterina Trifirò, Chiara Verduci, Graziella D'Arrigo, Alessandra Testa, Giovanni Tripepi
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3846

Apremilast is an oral selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor developed recently for psoriasis treatment. The aim of this study is to assess the real-life outcomes of use of apremilast in patients with psoriasis in everyday clinical practice. A total of 159 adult patients (90 males) with plaque psoriasis were included in the study. Fifty of the patients (31%) had psoriatic arthritis. All patients started apremilast at the time of enrolment. There was a marked improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, body surface area and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores across the follow-up period (12 months). The improvements in these scores were also consistent when the patients were stratified according to increasing body mass index. Only 10.6% of the patients discontinued apremilast, because of no response. In conclusion, apremilast is an effective and safe treatment in patients with psoriasis, and its effect is not influenced by body mass index.

Apremilast is an oral selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor developed recently for psoriasis treatment. In 159 adult patients with psoriasis (90 males; 50 patients had psoriatic arthritis), the real-life outcomes of apremilast use were assessed in everyday clinical practice. All patients started apremilast treatment at the time of enrolment and were followed up for 12 months. There was a marked improvement in the clinical index related to disease severity and psychological distress. The effectiveness of apremilast was not influenced by body mass index. Only 10.6% of the patients discontinued apremilast, indicating that it is a safe treatment.

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