Content » Vol 96, Issue 4

Clinical Report

Effects of Apremilast on Pruritus and Skin Discomfort/Pain Correlate With Improvements in Quality of Life in Patients With Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

Jeffrey M. Sobell, Peter Foley, Darryl Toth, Ulrich Mrowietz, Giampiero Girolomoni, Joana Goncalves, Robert M. Day, Rongdean Chen, Gil Yosipovitch
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-2360

Abstract

Pruritus and skin discomfort/pain negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The effects of apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on pruritus, skin discomfort/pain, and patient global assessment of psoriasis disease activity (PgAPDA) were assessed in moderate/severe chronic plaque psoriasis patients in the phase 3 ESTEEM trials. Significant improvements in pruritus and skin discomfort/pain observed at Week 2 with apremilast versus placebo (both studies, p<0.0001) were sustained through Week 32. Among apremilast-treated patients, improvements in pruritus visual analog scale (VAS) scores correlated with Dermatology Life Quality Index scores (rs=0.55 [Week 16], rs≥0.51 [Week 32]; both studies, p<0.001). PgAPDA correlated with improvements in pruritus (rs≥0.56 [Week 16]; rs≥0.53 [Week 32]; both studies, p<0.001) and skin discomfort/pain (rs≥0.54 [Week 16]; rs≥0.53 [Week 32]; both studies, p<0.001) VAS scores. Apremilast provided rapid and sustained improvement in pruritus and skin discomfort/pain, symptoms not typically captured in psoriasis assessments (e.g., PASI) that contribute significantly to patients’ disease severity and HRQoL perceptions.

Significance

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