Psoriasis: Anstey AV

Smith CH, Anstey AV, Barker JN, Burden AD, Chalmers RJ, Chandler D, Finlay AY, Griffiths CE, Grifitths CE, Jackson K, McHugh NJ, McKenna KE, Reynolds NJ, Ormerod AD, Anonymous00078. · St John's Institute of Dermatology, GKT School of Medicine, St Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, UK. · Br J Dermatol. · Pubmed #16120132 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Anstey AV, Kragballe K. · Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, Wales, UK, and Marselisborg Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Arhus C, Denmark. · Int J Dermatol. · Pubmed #16911387 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The US National Psoriasis Foundation recently recommended that PASI 50 and PASI 75 response rates be used in clinical trials to enable comparisons across studies of different psoriasis therapies. To date, these response rates have not been reported for the two-compound ointment containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet/Dovobet; LEO Pharma, Ballerup, Denmark). Further, in order to compare Daivobet with other therapeutics recently presented to the European regulatory authorities and the FDA, comparison with the biologicals, efalizumab, etanercept and alefacept, were also made. OBJECTIVES: To present the PASI 50 and PASI 75 results for the two-compound ointment containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate. METHODS: Data from six phase III studies conducted with the two-compound ointment were pooled and the PASI 50 and PASI 75 response rates calculated for patients with severe (PASI>or=17) or less severe disease (PASI<17) at treatment commencement. Results for the biological therapies, efalizumab, etanercept and alefacept, were obtained from relevant published phase III studies. RESULTS: PASI 50 and PASI 75 were achieved by more patients treated with the two-compound ointment than with the individual components. In patients with severe disease, the PASI 50 response rate after 4 weeks' treatment was 88.8% with the two-compound ointment, 69.2% with betamethasone dipropionate, 53.8% with calcipotriol, and 30.0% with ointment vehicle. In comparison, 12 weeks' treatment with the biologicals resulted in PASI 50 response rates of 59% with efalizumab, 74% with etanercept, and 56% with alefacept. CONCLUSIONS: The two-compound ointment is effective, producing a PASI 50 and PASI 75 response in greater than 80% and 50% of patients, respectively, regardless of psoriasis severity.

Woods AL, Rutter KJ, Gardner LS, Lewis VJ, Saxena S, George SA, Chalmers RJ, Griffiths CE, Speight EL, Anstey AV, Ronda L, McGibbon D, Barker JW, Smith CH. · Skin Therapy Research Unit, St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, and Imperial College, London SE1 9RT, UK. · Br J Dermatol. · Pubmed #18067482 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Some patients with psoriasis may require hospital admission to stabilize their condition, although the role of inpatient management is changing given recent advances in therapeutic options, emphasis on community-based care for chronic conditions and limited healthcare resources. There is a need for evidence-based national standards for inpatient management of psoriasis taking account of factors that predict length of stay. OBJECTIVES: To determine which factors predict length of stay for patients with psoriasis requiring inpatient hospital care with a view to setting evidence-based standards for inpatient psoriasis management. METHODS: A multicentre service review was conducted on all psoriasis admissions over a 9-month period in four dermatology centres in the U.K. We collected data on admission, at discharge and, where possible, at 3 months following discharge. Psoriasis severity was assessed using four validated scoring systems, including Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index. We also recorded length of stay and treatment details. RESULTS: Length of stay varied widely between the four centres, but was similar in the two centres which received a high proportion of tertiary referrals for severe psoriasis (mean 19.7 days, range 1-78, analysis of variance P=0.002). Disease severity, measured by PASI, on admission (mean 15.7, interquartile range 8.3-20.8) was significantly higher in the tertiary centres (P<0.0001). However, there was no significant difference in PASI between centres on discharge. The admission PASI was significantly associated with length of stay (r=0.2, P=0.02). There was no significant correlation between other measures of disease severity and length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Disease severity on admission for patients with psoriasis is greater in tertiary referral centres for psoriasis and is directly associated with length of stay. Length of stay should be used in conjunction with clinical measures such as PASI improvement to set national standards for quality in secondary care.

Otman SG, Edwards C, Pearse AD, Gambles BJ, Anstey AV. · Department of Dermatology, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, Gwent, and Department of Dermatology, Cardiff University, College of Medicine, UK. · Br J Dermatol. · Pubmed #16634902 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Patients with psoriasis undergoing or about to undergo ultraviolet (UV) phototherapy and photochemotherapy often have thick scale on their plaques which can prevent the penetration of UV radiation. Emollients are used to moisturize the skin and to prevent or reduce some of the milder side-effects ('dryness', itching) sometimes experienced during UV therapy. However, emollients can alter the UV transmission of skin and thus may alter the clinical effects of phototherapy and photochemotherapy. OBJECTIVES: We tested 30 of the topical emollients in the British National Formulary (BNF) using a standard in vitro technique used to test sunscreens. We also surveyed U.K. phototherapy units to establish routine practice for emollient use in phototherapy and photochemotherapy. METHODS: We used a standard in vitro technique to measure the monochromatic protection factors (MPFs) of 30 non-bath emollients from the BNF. An application rate of 2 mg cm-2 was used. For the assessment of effects during narrowband UVB (TL-01) phototherapy, the mean of the protection factors at 310 and 315 nm was calculated; for psoralen plus UVA photochemotherapy the mean UVA protection factor was used. A questionnaire survey was used to assess routine practice concerning emollient use prior to phototherapies in phototherapy units throughout the U.K. RESULTS: In the UVA range, 17 of the 30 emollients gave protection factors of 1.2 or above. In the UVB range, 23 of 30 had an MPF of 1.2 or above. Yellow soft paraffin had the highest protection factor in the UVB range. Of 78 centres surveyed, 57 returned completed questionnaires (73%). Seventeen of 57 (30%) centres routinely used emollients immediately prior to administering phototherapy treatments. The remaining 40 of 57 (70%) did not. Forty-five (79%) responding centres recommended the use of emollients after phototherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study has revealed considerable variability in the practice of emollient use before phototherapy treatments. Although the majority of centres included in this study did not routinely use emollients, almost one third did. Our in vitro measurement of 30 emollients revealed marked variation in UV transmission, with many emollients blocking sufficient UV to affect the response to therapy.

Halpern SM, Anstey AV, Dawe RS, Diffey BL, Farr PM, Ferguson J, Hawk JL, Ibbotson S, McGregor JM, Murphy GM, Thomas SE, Rhodes LE. · Dermatology Unit, University Clinical Departments, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK. · Br J Dermatol. · Pubmed #10651690 No free full text.

Abstract: Psoralen photochemotherapy [psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA)] plays an important part in dermatological therapeutics, being an effective and generally safe treatment for psoriasis and other dermatoses. In order to maintain optimal efficacy and safety, guidelines concerning best practice should be available to operators and supervisors. The British Photodermatology Group (BPG) have previously published recommendations on PUVA, including UVA dosimetry and calibration, patient pretreatment assessment, indications and contraindications, and the management of adverse reactions.1 While most current knowledge relates to oral PUVA, the use of topical PUVA regimens is also popular and presents a number of questions peculiar to this modality, including the choice of psoralen, formulation, method of application, optimal timing of treatment, UVA regimens and relative benefits or risks as compared with oral PUVA. Bath PUVA, i.e. generalized immersion, is the most frequently used modality of topical treatment, practised by about 100 centres in the U.K., while other topical preparations tend to be used for localized diseases such as those affecting the hands and feet. This paper is the product of a recent workshop of the BPG and includes guidelines for bath, local immersion and other topical PUVA. These recommendations are based, where possible, on the results of controlled studies, or otherwise on the consensus view on current practice.

Goodwin RG, Finlay AY, Anstey AV. · No affiliation provided · Br J Dermatol. · Pubmed #11422056 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.