Effectiveness of risankizumab in plaque psoriasis with involvement of difficult-to-treat areas: a real-world experience from two referral centers

Abstract

The management of plaque psoriasis that affects difficult-to-treat areas can be challenging. Biologics have become the treatment of choice for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. However, there are limited data on their efficacy in difficult-to-treat sites (including scalp, palms/soles, nails and genitalia). We conducted a 52-week retrospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of risankizumab in 202 patients with moderate-to-severe involvement of at least one difficult-to-treat area. One hundred and sixty-five patients had scalp psoriasis, 21 had involvement of palms or soles, 72 were affected by genital psoriasis, and 50 patients reported the involvement of the fingernails. After one year of treatment, 97.58% of patients with scalp involvement, 95.28% of patients with palmoplantar psoriasis, 100% of patients with genital psoriasis and 82% of patients with nail involvement achieved a site-specific Physician’s Global Assessment of 0 or 1 (clear or almost clear). No serious adverse events were observed during the study. Our study supports the effectiveness of risankizumab in plaque psoriasis involving difficult-to-treat sites.

Keywords:

• Difficult areas
• psoriasis
• real-world
• risankizumab

Acknowledgements

None.

Ethical approval

Institutional review board approval was exempted as the study protocol did not deviate from standard clinical practice. The patient received risankizumab as in good clinical practice, in accordance with European guidelines. The patient and her parents had provided written consent for retrospective study of data collected during routine clinical practice (demographics, clinical scores) and for the publication of clinical pictures. The study was performed in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and its later amendments. Data collection and handling complied with applicable laws, regulations, and guidance regarding patient protection, including patient privacy.

Disclosure statement

L. Gargiulo has been a consultant for Almirall. M. Valenti has been a consultant and/or speaker for Sanofi, Leo Pharma, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Janssen, AbbVie and Boehringer Ingelheim. A. Costanzo has served as an advisory board member, consultant and has received fees and speaker’s honoraria or has participated in clinical trials for Abbvie, Almirall, Biogen, LEO Pharma, Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi Genzyme, and UCB-Pharma. A. Narcisi has served on advisory boards, received honoraria for lectures and research grants from Almirall, Abbvie, Leo Pharma, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Amgen and Boehringer Ingelheim. The other authors have nothing to disclose.

Data availability statement

Data are available on request from the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Voucher by Bibliosan.