Prevalence and incidence of palmoplantar pustulosis in Sweden: a population-based register study

Efficacy and Safety of Brodalumab, an Anti-interleukin-17 Receptor A Monoclonal Antibody, for Palmoplantar Pustulosis: 16-Week Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP), a refractory skin disease characterized by repeated eruptions of sterile pustules and vesicles on palms and/or soles, involves interleukin-17 pathway activation. Brodalumab, a fully human anti-interleukin-17 receptor A monoclonal antibody, is being investigated for use in PPP treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of brodalumab in Japanese PPP patients with moderate or severe pustules/vesicles.

METHODS

A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted between July 2019 and August 2022, at 41 centers in Japan. Patients aged 18-70 years with a diagnosis of PPP for ≥ 24 weeks, a PPP Area Severity Index (PPPASI) score of ≥ 12, a PPPASI subscore of pustules/vesicles of ≥ 2, and inadequate response to therapy were included. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive brodalumab 210 mg or placebo, subcutaneously (SC) at baseline, weeks 1 and 2, and every 2 weeks (Q2W) thereafter until week 16. Changes from baseline to week 16 in the PPPASI total score (primary endpoint) and other secondary skin-related endpoints and safety endpoints were assessed.

RESULTS

Of the 126 randomized patients, 50 of 63 in the brodalumab group and 62 of 63 in the placebo group completed the 16-week period. Reasons for discontinuation were adverse event (n = 6), withdrawal by patient/parent/guardian (n = 3), progressive disease (n = 3), and lost to follow-up (n = 1) in the brodalumab group and Good Clinical Practice deviation (n = 1) in the placebo group. Change from baseline in the PPPASI total score at week 16 was significantly higher (p = 0.0049) with brodalumab (least-squares mean [95% confidence interval {CI}] 13.73 [10.91-16.56]) versus placebo (8.45 [5.76-11.13]; difference [95% CI] 5.29 [1.64-8.94]). At week 16, brodalumab showed a trend of rapid improvement versus placebo for PPPASI-50/75/90 response (≥ 50%/75%/90% improvement from baseline) and Physician's Global Assessment 0/1 score: 54% versus 24.2%, 36.0% versus 8.1%, 16.0% versus 0.0%, and 32.0% versus 9.7%, respectively. Infection was the dominant treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE); the commonly reported TEAEs were otitis externa (25.4%/1.6%), folliculitis (15.9%/3.2%), nasopharyngitis (14.3%/4.8%), and eczema (14.3%/12.9%) in the brodalumab/placebo groups, respectively. The severity of most TEAEs reported was Grade 1 or 2 and less frequently Grade ≥ 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Brodalumab SC 210 mg Q2W demonstrated efficacy in Japanese PPP patients. The most common TEAEs were mild infectious events.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04061252 (Date of Trial Registration: August 19, 2019).

Age at Natural Menopause, Reproductive Lifespan, and the Risk of Late-Onset Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis in Women: A Prospective Cohort Study

Although a peak incidence of psoriasis in women aged around 60 years has been observed, the link between reproductive lifespan and late-onset psoriatic diseases is underexplored. This study aims to elucidate the association between reproductive lifespan and the risk of late-onset psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Utilizing the UK Biobank data, we conducted a prospective cohort study in postmenopausal women without baseline psoriatic diseases. The exposure variables included age at natural menopause (ANM) and duration from menarche to menopause, termed reproductive years. The outcome variables were incident psoriasis and PsA. We employed Cox regression analysis, factoring in polygenic risk scores for psoriatic diseases and recognized risk factors. We found that later ANM and longer reproductive years were significantly associated with decreased risks of late-onset psoriasis and PsA in a dose-dependent manner (P<.05). ANM after age 55 years led to a 34 and 46% risk reduction in late-onset psoriasis and PsA, respectively, compared with ANM before age 45 years (P<.001). The population-attributable risks of ANM were 17.4% for late-onset psoriasis and 21.6% for PsA. In conclusion, reproductive lifespan, with its inherent homeostasis, plays a pivotal yet overlooked role in late-onset psoriatic diseases. Investigations into estrogen-centric causes and sex-specific interventions are imperative.

Associations of inflammatory cytokines with palmoplantar pustulosis: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Background

Variations in circulatory cytokine levels have been observed during the onset and course of palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP); however, whether these changes are due to etiological or secondary factors is unclear. To clarify the causal relationship, we conducted a summarized-level bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis in this study.

Methods

A FinnGen biobank genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 212,766 individuals (524 PPP patients and 212,242 controls) provided summary data for PPP, whereas genetic instrumental variables (IVs) linked to circulation cytokine levels were gathered from a GWAS of 14,824 European individuals. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW), weighted median (WME), simple mode, and MR-Egger methods were used to ascertain the changes in PPP pathogenic cytokine taxa. Sensitivity analysis, which included horizontal pleiotropy analysis, was then conducted. The reliability of the results was assessed using the leave-one-out approach and the MR Steiger test, which evaluated the strength of a causal relationship. To evaluate the reverse causality between PPP and circulating cytokine levels, a reverse MR analysis was carried out.

Results

Our study demonstrated positive associations between C-X-C motif chemokine 6 (CXCL6) and PPP (odds ratio, OR 1.257, 95%CI: 1.001-1.570, p = 0.043). C-C motif chemokine 19 (CCL19) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were suggested to be protectively associated with the development of PPP (OR: 0.698,95% CI: 0.516-0.944, p = 0.020; OR: 0.656, 95%CI:0.437-0.985, p = 0.042). The results were steady after sensitivity and heterogeneity analyses.

Conclusion

At the genetic prediction level, we identified causally connected inflammation-related variables that contributed to the onset and development of PPP. The therapeutic options for some refractory PPP have expanded due to tailored cytokine therapy, generating fresh concepts for PPP diagnostics and mechanism investigation.

The Epidemiology of Palmoplantar Pustulosis: An Analysis of Multiple Health Insurance Claims and Electronic Health Records Databases

BACKGROUND

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by sterile pustules on the palms and soles. This study evaluated the epidemiology of PPP using claims and electronic health record (EHR) databases.

METHODS

Patients coded for PPP in the United States (US) and Japan from 2016 to 2020 were identified. Several PPP definitions were evaluated; the specific definition (≥ 2 visits coded for PPP, the second 31-730 days after diagnosis) was chosen for characterizing PPP epidemiology. Baseline characteristics and pre- and post-diagnosis treatments were summarized. Prevalence and incidence rates were analyzed by calendar year, sex, age, and database.

RESULTS

Prevalence and incidence of PPP were higher in Japan than the US. PPP prevalence increased over time. PPP occurred predominantly in adulthood and was more common among women. Features of metabolic syndromes, anxiety, and depression were more common among US PPP patients. Consistently high baseline use of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory/anti-rheumatic, and obstructive airway disease treatments was observed among PPP patients. Potential miscoding or misclassification of PPP limited this analysis. Prevalence estimates from databases may differ from field- and population-based approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of PPP was greater in Japan than in the US. Additional studies are needed to further elucidate PPP epidemiology worldwide.

An update on therapeutic options for palmoplantar pustulosis: a narrative review and expert recommendations

INTRODUCTION

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease belonging to the localized form of pustular psoriasis. It is characterized by sterile pustule formation in palms and soles and a recurrent disease course. Although we have many treatments for PPP, there is no authoritative guidance.

AREAS COVERED

A thorough search of PubMed was conducted to identify studies in PPP from 1973 onwards, with additional references to specific articles. Any treatment methods were outcomes of interest, including topical treatment, systemic treatment, biologics, other targeted treatments, phototherapy, and tonsillectomy.

EXPERT OPINION

Topical corticosteroids are suggested as first-line therapy. Oral acitretin has become the most applied systemic retinoid recommended in PPP without joint involvement. For patients with arthritis, immunosuppressants like cyclosporin A and methotrexate are more recommended. UVA1, NB-UVB, and 308-nm excimer laser are effective phototherapy options. The combinations of topical or systemic agents and phototherapy may enhance the efficacy, particularly in recalcitrant cases. Secukinumab, ustekinumab, and apremilast are the most investigated targeted therapies. However, heterogeneous reported outcomes in clinical trials provided low-to-moderate quality evidence of their efficacy. Future studies are required to address these evidence gaps. We suggest managing PPP based on the acute phase, maintenance phase, and comorbidities.

Economic Burden of Palmoplantar Pustulosis in Sweden: A Population-based Register Study

The aim of this study was to estimate the economic burden of palmoplantar pustulosis, a chronic relapsing skin condition commonly occurring in combination with psoriasis vulgaris. Using data from the Swedish National Patient Register and Swedish Prescribed Drug Register for 2015, the study estimated all-cause and palmoplantar pustulosis-specific healthcare resource use (inpatient stays, physician visits and drug use) for 14,715 patients with palmoplantar pustulosis, and compared these both with matched controls from the general population and with patients with psoriasis vulgaris (without palmoplantar pustulosis). Mean annual direct costs for a patient with palmoplantar pustulosis was higher compared with costs for the general population (3,000 vs 1,700 Euro, p < 0.001). Compared with psoriasis vulgaris, more patients with palmoplantar pustulosis had inpatient stays, but fewer had physician visits and psoriasis-related drugs; the overall costs were similar. Only a small fraction of the costs of physician visits and inpatient stays for patients with palmoplantar pustulosis were attributable to specific palmoplantar pustulosis problems, indicating a clear comorbidity burden in palmoplantar pustulosis.

Interleukin-19 Levels Are Increased in Palmoplantar Pustulosis and Reduced following Apremilast Treatment

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterised by neutrophilic granulocyte (neutrophil)-filled pustules on the palms and soles. The pathogenesis of PPP is poorly understood. This study conducted an identification of the immune mediators associated with PPP and an exploration of apremilast treatment effects on them. We screened for immune mediators elevated in blood taken from 68 patients with PPP versus control participants and included the most promising parameters in the protocol of phase the 2, multicentre study of apremilast (PDE4 inhibitor) in 21 patients with moderate-to-severe PPP (APLANTUS; EudraCT 2016-005122-11) for respective analysis of blood and skin samples of study patients. We investigated stimulated neutrophils and three-dimensional reconstituted epidermis cultures. Interleukin (IL)-19 was found to be the most upregulated immune mediator in the blood of PPP patients. IL-19 serum levels were independent of patients' age, gender, and BMI but were associated with strongly upregulated cutaneous IL-19 expression and correlated with the number of palmoplantar pustules. In patients participating in the APLANTUS study, apremilast reduced pustules more effectively than erythema and scaling. Moreover, this treatment significantly reduced IL-19 blood and skin levels. The reduction in IL-19 blood levels at week 4 correlated with the reduction in pustule counts at week 20 (end of treatment). IL-19 was expressed by neutrophils activated in vitro and induced CXCL6, a neutrophil-attracting chemokine, in epidermis models. This work demonstrates elevated IL-19 levels in the blood and skin of PPP patients and suggests a relevant role of this cytokine in the appearance of pustules in this disorder. It also suggests the suitability of IL-19 blood levels as a predictive biomarker for the treatment response of PPP patients, which should be validated in further studies.

Practice Patterns of Palmoplantar Pustulosis: Patient Demographics and Treatment Options

Background

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic skin condition characterized by sterile pustules on the palms and soles. This condition is more commonly reported among women and smokers causing considerable discomfort and interference with daily activities. Although there are various off-label treatment options available for PPP, there remains a demand to identify more effective and safer treatments.

Objective

To review the patient demographics and treatment patterns of our PPP patient population.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed at a dermatology office with two locations in Ontario, Canada.

Results

We identified 71 adult PPP patients. A third of patients did not return for follow up after diagnosis. Among those who returned for follow-up, 20% were managed with topical therapy alone. Of our patients who took systemic treatment for PPP, apremilast, followed by ustekinumab and guselkumab, had the greatest retention of therapy.

Conclusion

Targeting PDE4, IL-12/23 and IL-23 provided some benefit for our patients with PPP leading to greatest retention of therapy over time. Further investigation is required into the cause for high no-show rates and the search for effective and safe treatment options.