@article{3030070,
    title = "Effectiveness and safety of apremilast in biologic-naive patients with
moderate psoriasis treated in routine clinical practice in Greece: the
APRAISAL study",
    author = "Ioannides, D. and Antonakopoulos, N. and Georgiou, S. and Chasapi, V and and Katsantonis, I and Drosos, A. and Rigopoulos, D. and Antoniou, C. and and Anastasiadis, G. and Bassukas, I and Ioannidou, D. and Protopapa, A. and and Neofotistou, O. and Krasagakis, K. and Aronis, P. and Papageorgiou, M. and and Lazaridou, E. and Patsatsi, A. and Lefaki, I and Roussaki-Schulze, and V, A. and Satra, F. and Anagnostopoulos, Z. and Papakonstantis, M.",
    journal = "Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology",
    year = "2021",
    volume = "35",
    number = "9",
    pages = "1838-1848",
    publisher = "Wiley",
    issn = "0926-9959, 1468-3083",
    doi = "10.1111/jdv.17392",
    abstract = "Background Apremilast is an oral phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor indicated
for patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis and active
psoriatic arthritis. Objectives To examine the effectiveness of
apremilast on Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Psoriasis Area and
Severity Index (PASI) and nail, scalp and palmoplantar involvement, when
administered prior to biologics. Methods This 52-week real-world study
included biologic-naive adults with moderate psoriasis
(psoriasis-involved body surface area 10% to <20%, or PASI 10 to <20
and DLQI 10 to <20). Apremilast was initiated <= 7 days before
enrolment. Data from the first 100 eligible patients who completed 24
weeks (W24) of observation (or were prematurely withdrawn) are presented
in this interim analysis using the last-observation-carried-forward
imputation method. Results Eligible patients (mean age: 49.9 years;
71.0% males; median disease duration: 8.0 years) were consecutively
enrolled between April and October 2017, by 18 dermatology specialists
practising in hospital outpatient settings in Greece. Baseline DLQI
(median: 12.0) and PASI (median: 11.7) scores improved (P < 0.001) at
all postbaseline timepoints (Weeks 6, 16 and 24; W24 median decreases:
9.0 and 9.4 points respectively). At W24, DLQI <= 5, DLQI 0 or 1, and
PASI-75 response rates were 63.0%, 25.0% and 48.0% respectively. The
Nail Psoriasis Severity Index score in patients with baseline nail
involvement (n = 57) decreased at all postbaseline timepoints (P <
0.001; W24 median decrease: 20.0 points). At W24, 50.0% and 51.7% of
patients with baseline scalp (n = 76) and palmoplantar (n = 29)
involvement respectively achieved postbaseline Physician’s Global
Assessment (PGA) score of 0 or 1 if baseline score was >= 3, or 0 if
baseline score was 1 or 2. The adverse drug reaction rate was 21.0%
(serious: 2.0%). Conclusions These interim results indicate that
through 24 weeks, apremilast improved quality of life and reduced
disease severity in biologic-naive patients with moderate plaque
psoriasis, while demonstrating safety consistent with the known safety
profile."
}