From the academy

AAD consensus statement on psoriasis therapies*

Phototherapy is a mainstay in the treatment of psoriasis and is available as psoralen plus UVA (PUVA), broadband UVB (BB-UVB), and narrowband UVB (NB-UVB). Phototherapy can be administered in the hospital, outpatient clinic, or in the patient's home. The purpose of this review is to provide some practical guidance to general dermatologists and residents on the specifics of using phototherapy, which, despite its decreasing use, remains one of our most safe and effective treatment strategies for psoriasis care. We conducted a literature review of home phototherapy, BB-UVB, NB-UVB, and PUVA phototherapy using PubMed, MD Consult, and reference lists. A variety of protocols for BB-UVB, NB-UVB, and PUVA have been used in clinical trials. NB-UVB is more effective than BB-UVB and safer than PUVA. Typical regimens for NB-UVB involve dosing 3 times per week for at least 3 months. Treatment must be independently developed to suit each participant's needs. Ultraviolet light is an effective, relatively safe modality that is a valuable tool in the treatment of psoriasis. NB-UVB phototherapy is considered the first-line treatment for extensive plaque type psoriasis.

Las estrategias terapéuticas existentes para la psoriasis moderada-grave son múltiples, siendo el criterio clínico fundamental para su elección. Para conocer la realidad terapéutica de la psoriasis moderada-grave, se realizó una encuesta de opinión basada en práctica clínica habitual en España.

Estudio transversal mediante encuesta a dermatólogos que tratan a pacientes con psoriasis moderada-grave en España. La encuesta constaba de 33 ítems distribuidos en 6 secciones: perfil del dermatólogo, carga asistencial, perfil de paciente, seguimiento y manejo terapéutico de la enfermedad, pautas de tratamiento y valoración de fármacos.

Según los datos de opinión y experiencia de los 164 dermatólogos encuestados, el 6,8% de los pacientes atendidos en consulta presentarían psoriasis moderada-grave, de los que el 45,8% estarían tratados con un fármaco sistémico y el 22,9% con uno biológico. En muchos de estos pacientes (50,2%) se haría un cambio de tratamiento, de sistémico a biológico en el 51,1% de los casos. El principal motivo de cambio (50,8%) sería una falta de eficacia o aparición de efectos adversos. La eficacia y seguridad serían criterios imprescindibles a considerar para la elección de un tratamiento óptimo (82,9 y 28,0% de los dermatólogos, respectivamente). Un 28,0% de los dermatólogos consideró también imprescindible la valoración de la calidad de vida de los pacientes para instaurar un tratamiento.

El tratamiento óptimo para la psoriasis moderada-grave debería ser eficaz, seguro y capaz de mejorar la calidad de vida del paciente. Para ello, es imprescindible el uso de fármacos de elevada eficacia y seguridad.

Various treatment options are available for use in moderate-to-severe psoriasis and election is dependent upon the clinical criteria applied by the attending physician. We undertook a survey among dermatologists to assess the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis currently used in clinical practice in Spain.

A cross-sectional study was performed by sending a questionnaire to dermatologists in Spain who treat patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The questionnaire comprised 33 items distributed in 6 sections: profile of the dermatologist, case load, patient profile, follow-up and management of the disease, treatment regimens, and assessment of pharmacological treatments.

According to the responses of the 164 dermatologists surveyed, 6.8% of patients seen in their clinics have moderate-to-severe psoriasis; of those, 45.8% receive systemic treatment and 22.9% are treated with biologic drugs. In many of those patients (50.2%), the dermatologist felt that a change in treatment was necessary; in 51.1% of cases, this change would be from systemic therapy to a biologic drug. The principal reason for the change (50.8%) would be lack of efficacy or the appearance of adverse effects. Efficacy and safety were considered essential criteria in the choice of an appropriate treatment (82.9% and 28.0% of dermatologists, respectively). Patient quality of life was also considered an essential consideration in choice of treatment by 28.0% of dermatologists.

Optimal treatment for moderate-to-severe psoriasis should be effective and safe, and improve patient quality of life. This makes it essential to use drugs with an excellent efficacy and safety profile.