Dimethyl Fumarate's Effectiveness and Safety in Psoriasis: A Real-Life Experience During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is approved as oral systemic treatment for moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Scarce evidence is available for DMF treatment in psoriatic patients at the time of COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term effectiveness and safety of DMF monotherapy in moderate-to-severe psoriasis during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

METHODS:

This multicenter, retrospective study included patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who had received a 48-week DMF treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Selected outcomes were: variation of mean PASI, proportion of patients achieving PASI50 and PASI75, variation of mean PGA and face PGA, genital PGA, scalp PGA, mean itch VAS and mean DLQI.

RESULTS:

Forty-four patients were enrolled, and four patients became COVID-19 positive during the observation period but did not discontinue DMF therapy. DMF produced a significant improvement of signs and symptoms of psoriasis as expressed by mean PASI variation from 13.07 at baseline to 6.11 at week 48 (p < 0.0001), itch VAS from 3.22 at baseline to 1.18 at week 48 (p < 0.001), PGA from 2.84 at baseline to 1.30 at week 48 (p < 0.0001) and DLQI from 13.09 at baseline to 6.07 at week 48 (p < 0.0001). The percentage of patients who achieved PASI50 and PASI75 was 4.55% at week 4 and 59.09% at week 48 and 0% at week 4 and 22.73% at week 48, respectively. A clinical important decrease of mean PGA score was observed in all subgroups, face psoriasis, genital psoriasis and scalp psoriasis. Adverse events were predictable and manageable.

CONCLUSIONS:

DMF monotherapy is an effective and safe treatment option in moderate-to-severe psoriasis also in patients who develop SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Authors: Maria Esposito, Anna Campanati, Alessandro Giunta, Gianluca Calianno, Luca Bianchi, Federico Diotallevi, Anna Maria Offidani, Maria Concetta Fargnoli
• Journal: Dermatology and therapy (Dermatol Ther (Heidelb)) Vol. 12 Issue 3 Pg. 671-681 (Mar 2022) ISSN: 2193-8210 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 35103934 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).