Effects of Apremilast on Pruritus and Skin Discomfort/Pain Correlate With Improvements in Quality of Life in Patients With Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

Acta Derm Venereol. 2016 May;96(4):514-20. doi: 10.2340/00015555-2360.

Abstract

Pruritus and skin discomfort/pain negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The effects of apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on pruritus, skin discomfort/pain, and patient global assessment of psoriasis disease activity (PgAPDA) were assessed in moderate/severe chronic plaque psoriasis patients in the phase 3 ESTEEM trials. Significant improvements in pruritus and skin discomfort/pain observed at Week 2 with apremilast versus placebo (both studies, p < 0.0001) were sustained through Week 32. Among apremilast-treated patients, improvements in pruritus visual analog scale (VAS) scores correlated with Dermatology Life Quality Index scores (rs = 0.55 [Week 16], rs≥0.51 [Week 32]; both studies, p < 0.001). PgAPDA correlated with improvements in pruritus (rs≥0.56 [Week 16]; rs≥0.53 [Week 32]; both studies, p < 0.001) and skin discomfort/pain (rs ≥0.54 [Week 16]; rs≥0.53 [Week 32]; both studies, p < 0.001) VAS scores. Apremilast provided rapid and sustained improvement in pruritus and skin discomfort/pain, symptoms not typically captured in psoriasis assessments (e.g., PASI) that contribute significantly to patients' disease severity and HRQoL perceptions.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / adverse effects
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / diagnosis
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Pain / etiology
  • Pain / psychology
  • Pain Measurement
  • Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Pruritus / diagnosis
  • Pruritus / drug therapy*
  • Pruritus / etiology
  • Pruritus / psychology
  • Psoriasis / complications
  • Psoriasis / diagnosis
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy*
  • Psoriasis / psychology
  • Quality of Life*
  • Remission Induction
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Thalidomide / adverse effects
  • Thalidomide / analogs & derivatives*
  • Thalidomide / therapeutic use
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors
  • Thalidomide
  • apremilast