Efficacy and safety of fumaric acid esters in combination with phototherapy in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (FAST).

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

While treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis using a combination of fumaric acid esters (FAE, Fumaderm® ) and phototherapy (UV) is common practice, there have been hardly any studies investigating this regimen. Available information is limited to data from a small pilot study. The objective of the present study was to evaluate FAE/UV combination therapy in a larger patient cohort with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

In this prospective noninterventional multicenter study, data from patients treated with FAE/UV combination therapy was assessed with regard to efficacy (PGA' PASI, DLQI, EQ-5D), safety, and dosage over a twelve-month period. The findings were subsequently compared to data from a previous retrospective study on FAE monotherapy.

RESULTS:

Data from 363 patients was included in the analysis. Efficacy measures improved substantially on combination therapy. Compared to FAE monotherapy, FAE/UV therapy led to a faster clinical response, however, there was no difference in efficacy after 12 months. Neither the duration nor the type of phototherapy had an impact on efficacy. In general, combination therapy was well tolerated. Seven percent of patients experienced adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS:

FAE/UV combination therapy is effective and well tolerated in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Such treatment may induce a faster therapeutic response, and appears to be useful, particularly in the first three months of FAE therapy.

• Authors: Peter Weisenseel, Kristian Reich, Wiebke Griemberg, Katharina Merten, Christine Gröschel, Natalie Nunez Gomez, Kirsi Taipale, Beate Bräu, Ina Zschocke
• Journal: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG (J Dtsch Dermatol Ges) Vol. 15 Issue 2 Pg. 180-186 (Feb 2017) ISSN: 1610-0387 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 28214304 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)
• Copyright: © 2017 Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Dermatologic Agents
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Dimethyl Fumarate

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Combined Modality Therapy (adverse effects, statistics & numerical data)
• Dermatologic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Dimethyl Fumarate (administration & dosage)
• Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Female
• Gastrointestinal Diseases (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Germany (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (administration & dosage)
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prevalence
• Psoriasis (epidemiology, pathology, therapy)
• Treatment Outcome
• Ultraviolet Therapy (statistics & numerical data)
• Young Adult