Melanoma occurrence under long-term etanercept treatment for psoriasis: a case report

Melanoma occurrence during treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor is considered an incidental event, although very recent studies suggest a risk. Etanercept is a fusion protein that binds the tumor necrosis factor receptor and is included among TNF inhibitors, approved for the treatment of several autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis.We described a 79-year-old man with psoriasis, being treated with etanercept, who presented with a new brown to black macule on his right shoulder; this was immediately surgically excised. Histology showed a superficial spreading melanoma, 1.2 mm Breslow thickness, one mitosis/hpf, with no vascular or neural invasion (stage T2b). Sentinel lymph node biopsy was negative. There were no apparent melanoma risk factors: normal total nevus count, photo type IV, no childhood sunburns, no family history of melanoma, and no previous immune suppressive drugs and/or phototherapies. Etanercept 50 mg/week had been administered continuously for 5 years before the melanoma occurrence. After etanercept withdrawal his psoriasis slowly, but progressively relapsed

Clinical efficacy, speed of improvement and safety of apremilast for the treatment of adult Psoriasis during COVID-19 pandemic

Time to improvement is a crucial characteristic for effective treatments of chronic inflammatory conditions, such as psoriasis. Apremilast is a recently approved drug, belonging to the small molecule phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors, whose optimal safety and efficacy profile is somewhat affected by slow activity rate in clinical trials. Real world case series are suggesting a more consistent improvement, and with this additional personal investigation on 48 patients, we signal that 58% of patients achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 50, and 19% PASI 75 improvement in the first 8 weeks of treatment. Results at 16-week are remarkable, with overall 55% of patients achieving PASI 75, 21% PASI 90 and 14% PASI 100. Only 8 patients (18, 6%) had slightly improved, although satisfied with the regimen, and determined to continue. Noteworthy, our population was rather problematic in terms of comorbidities (86%), and resistance to other treatments, with only 28% naïve to systemics, including biologics. Moreover, the observation period includes the Italian outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic, and further information on apremilast safety are provided, no one of the patients having stopped treatment. In such a critical period, the apremilast satisfactory speed of therapeutic response in a real-world setting has further strengthens patient's compliance to remain safely at home, which is the best strategy to limit contagion

SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic infection in a patient under treatment with dupilumab

We have read with great interest the letter of the European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis (ETFAD) on SARS-CoV-2-infection and atopic dermatitis published in JEADV (March 2020)1 in which the authors state: "Targeted treatment selectively interfering with type-2 inflammation such as dupilumab is not considered to increase the risk for viral infections and might thus be preferred \u2026in a situation such as COVID-19 pandemic".1

Biologics exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding in a psoriasis patient

Biologic agents have revolutionized the treatment of psoriasis, and the increasing use of these agents in women of childbearing age raises questions regarding pregnancy safety. We report a case of a woman affected with severe psoriasis, who underwent 3 pregnancies whilst exposed to biologic agents. Although immediately dismissed at first pregnancy awareness, first trimester exposure occurred, and the course of the pregnancies were carefully monitored. The patient was under adalimumab treatment during her 1st pregnancy and Ustekinumab at her 2nd and 3rd gestation. She had a premature birth at 35 weeks during the first two pregnancies and at 36 weeks during her last pregnancy. All babies were born healthy without congenital anomalies. Furthermore, due to the rapid worsening of her psoriasis, biologics treatment was reintroduced immediately after breastfeeding in the first 2 occasions, but immediately after delivery in the last pregnancy, with the explicit consent of the patients. There are few data available on biologics treatment safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding, especially regarding ustekinumab. We report our positive experience with the aim of increasing case notifications, facilitate meta-analysis and eventual consensus recommendations regarding the use of biologics in special population. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved