Long-Term Treatment with Dimethyl Fumarate for Plaque Psoriasis in Routine Practice: Good Overall Effectiveness and...

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Plaque psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting skin health.
• Impactful areas like nails, palms, soles, and scalp present unique treatment challenges.
• Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an oral medication used for plaque psoriasis management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of DMF in treating plaque psoriasis, particularly in impactful areas.
• To analyze long-term outcomes of DMF treatment in a real-world clinical setting.
• To assess improvements in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores and specific affected areas.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, noninterventional study (SKILL) analyzing data from 676 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
• 52-week treatment data from 257 patients were analyzed.
• Effectiveness and safety were assessed using observed cases (OC) and last observation carried forward (LOCF) methods, focusing on nail, palmoplantar, and scalp psoriasis.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements observed in overall Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, with a 79.5% reduction (OC).
• Marked improvements in impactful areas: 70.2% for nail psoriasis and 57.3% for palmoplantar psoriasis.
• High rates of clear or almost clear scalp psoriasis (79.8% OC) and significant pruritus reduction were noted.

Conclusions:

• Long-term treatment with Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) demonstrates good overall effectiveness and safety in routine clinical practice.
• DMF positively impacts plaque psoriasis affecting challenging areas such as nails, palms, soles, and scalp.
• The study supports the use of DMF for comprehensive plaque psoriasis management.