Abstract Background: Real-world, primary data on the treatment of psoriasis are scarce, especially concerning the role of soluble biomarkers as outcome predictors. Objective: The authors evaluated the utility of Th1/Th17 serum cytokines along with clinical characteristics as predictors of drug survival in the treatment of psoriasis. Methods: The authors consecutively included participants with moderate to severe psoriasis who were followed up for 6 years. Baseline interferon-α, tumor necrosis factor-α, and inter-leukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17A were measured using a cytometric bead array; clinical data were assessed. The authors calculated hazard ratios (HRs) for drug survival using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The authors included 262 patients, most of whom used systemic immunosuppressants or biologics. In the multivariate model, poor quality of life measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (HR = 1.04; 95% CI 1.01–1.07; p = 0.012) and elevated baseline IL-6 (HR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.29–3.08; p = 0.002) were associated with treatment interruption. Study limitations: The main limitation of any cohort study is the presence of confounders that could not be detected in clinical evaluation. Conclusions: Poor quality of life and elevated baseline serum IL-6 level predicted treatment interruption in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Although IL-6 is not the most important mediator of the inflammatory pathway in the skin environment, it is an interesting biomarker candidate for predicting psoriasis treatment response.

Abstract: Background: Psoriasis has a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). Sexual life can also be affected, with sexual dysfunction being reported by 25-70% of patients. Objectives: To determine the occurrence of sexual dysfunction and evaluate QoL in women with psoriasis. Methods: This case-control study included women aged 18-69 years. The validated Brazilian Portuguese versions of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were administered to all participants to assess sexual function and QoL, respectively. Patients with psoriasis underwent clinical evaluation for the presence of comorbidities, especially psoriatic arthritis and other rheumatic manifestations. Location of lesions and the extent of skin involvement were also assessed. Results: The sample consisted of 150 women, 75 with diagnosis of psoriasis and 75 healthy controls. Prevalence of sexual dysfunction was high in women with psoriasis (58.6% of the sample). Prevalence was statistically higher in women with psoriasis than in controls (P = 0.014). The SF-36 domain scores were also lower in women with psoriasis, with role limitations due to physical health, limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health being the most affected domains. Study limitations: Sample size was calculated to evaluate the association between the occurrence of sexual dysfunction and psoriasis, but it did not include the determination of the possible causes of this dysfunction. Conclusions: QoL and sexual function were altered in women with psoriasis and should be taken into consideration when assessing disease severity.

Abstract: Background: The Simplified Psoriasis Index is a tool that assesses the current severity, psychosocial impact, past history and interventions in patients with psoriasis through separate components. Two versions are available, one in which the current severity of the disease is evaluated by the patient themselves and another by the physician. Objectives: Translate the Simplified Psoriasis Index into Brazilian Portuguese and verify its validity. Methods: The study was conducted in two stages; the first stage was the translation of the instrument; the second stage was the instrument's validation. Results: We evaluated 62 patients from Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa de Porto Alegre and Hospital Universitário de Brasília. The Simplified Psoriasis Index translated into Portuguese showed high internal consistency (Cronbach test 0.68). Study limitations: Some individuals, because of poor education, might not understand some questions of the Simplified Psoriasis Index. Conclusions: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the Simplified Psoriasis Index was validated for our population and can be recommended as a reliable instrument to assess the patients with psoriasis.

FUNDAMENTOS: A artrite psoriásica é uma artrite inflamatória associada à psoríase. Sua prevalência nos pacientes com psoríase de 7 a 42% mas sua exata prevalência ainda é desconhecida. OBJETIVOS: Considerando a escassez de dados nacionais relacionados ao seu diagnóstico em pacientes com psoríase o presente estudo visa descrever o quadro clínico, laboratorial e radiológico da doença nesses pacientes. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 133 pacientes com diagnóstico de psoríase acompanhados no ambulatório de Psoríase: Esses pacientes foram submetidos ao preenchimento de fichas com dados sobre sua doença e depois a uma avaliação clínica pelo dermatologista e reumatologista. Casos suspeitos de artrite foram encaminhados para realização de investigação complementar e foram classificados quanto à presença ou não de artrite psoriásica segundo critérios de CASPAR. RESULTADOS: O número de pacientes com Artrite Psoriásica foi de 47 pacientes (35% ) sendo 17 desses casos novos. Não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto ao tipo de psoríase, envolvimento ungueal e de couro cabeludo e presença de artrite psoriásica. Pacientes com artrite psoriásica apresentaram mais entesites e dactilite (46,7%) do que os sem artrite. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar da alta prevalência de artrite encontrada como sabemos que resultados de estudos epidemiológicos são variáveis levando a limitação em seu uso e interpretação concluímos que mais estudos são necessários para se traçar um perfil de manifestações reumatológicas em nossa população de pacientes psoriásicos.

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis. Its prevalence in patients with psoriasis varies from 7 to 42% but its exact prevalence is unknown. OBJECTIVES: Considering the lack of national data related to its diagnosis in patients with psoriasis, this study aims to describe the clinical, laboratorial and radiological manifestations of psoriatic arthritis in these patients. METHODS: We evaluated 133 patients with psoriasis, treated as outpatients. These patients were asked to fill in the forms with data about the disease and were submitted to a clinical evaluation by a dermatologist and a rheumatologist. Suspected cases of arthritis were referred for further investigation and were classified according to presence or absence of psoriatic arthritis according to CASPAR criteria. RESULTS: The number of patients with psoriatic arthritis was 47 (35%), 17 of them were new cases. There was no difference between the groups regarding the type of psoriasis, nail involvement, presence of scalp lesions and psoriatic arthritis. Patients with psoriatic arthritis had more enthesitis and dactylitis (46.7%) than those without arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high prevalence of arthritis found, we know that results from epidemiological studies are variable, which limits their use and interpretation. We conclude that more studies are needed to draw a profile of rheumatic manifestations in our population of psoriasis patients.

A psoríase é doença crônica que acomete entre 0,1 e 3% da população mundial e cujo impacto social e psicológico costuma ser subestimado.¹ Muitos estudos têm relatado o impacto produzido por essa doença na qualidade de vida dos pacientes, e questionários para analisar objetivamente essa incapacidade estão sendo descritos.1,2 É importante avaliar a percepção do portador de psoríase em relação a seu estado de saúde, incapacidade e qualidade de vida a fim de estabelecer a melhor terapêutica para cada indivíduo. Este artigo de EMC-D aborda a validação de dois questionários de avaliação da qualidade de vida para a língua portuguesa.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that affects about 0.1 to 3% of the world's population and most people underestimate the social and psychological impact of the disease.¹ MSeveral studies have described the many ways in which psoriasis affects patients' lives, and techniques have been described to quantify the disability caused.1,2 It is important to assess the perceived levels of health status, disability and quality of life when considering what kind of treatment options to offer patients with psoriasis. Underscoring the importance of this, the EMC-D article focuses on a validation of two quality of life questionnaires translated into Brazilian Portuguese.

Relato de um caso de escleromixedema com lesões cutâneas associadas a miopatia, disfunção esofageana e paraproteinemia. Durante a evolução, a paciente apresentou sintomas de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva (ICC) que foram relacionados à miocardiopatia, passível de ocorrer em até 10% dos portadores de escleromixedema. São discutidos os aspectos clínicos, etiológicos e terapêuticos.

We report a case of scleromyxedema with skin lesions in association with myopathy, esophageal dysfunction and paraproteinemia. During the disease course, the patient developed symptoms of cardiac failure related to a cardiomyopathy, a condition that has been described in up to 10% of patients with scleromyxedema. The clinical, etiologic and therapeutic aspects are discussed in this paper.

Em continuidade ao capítulo da edição anterior dos Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, nesta segunda parte da EMC-D serão discutidas as novas drogas, os imunomoduladores biológicos, que agem em determinadas fases da imunopatogênese da doença, modificando fenotipicamente sua evolução. Também serão discutidos alguns aspectos imunológicos que, atualmente, são responsáveis pelo desencadeamento da doença

As part of its continued studies of psoriasis, this second part of the Continuing Medical Education in Dermatology segment of the Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia introduces biological immunomodulators. Also known as "biologics", these drugs act on the immunopathogenetic steps of psoriasis by changing its features and progression. This paper also reviews some of the immunologic aspects of psoriasis.

Embora a fisiopatologia da psoríase ainda não esteja totalmente esclarecida e permaneçam dúvidas quanto à natureza dos antígenos que levam à ativação do linfócito T e quanto ao papel dos mecanismos reguladores dos surtos e da resolução da inflamação, são inegáveis os avanços terapêuticos das últimas décadas. Além do surgimento de novos medicamentos, a melhor utilização de tratamentos clássicos e a valorização do impacto da terapêutica na qualidade de vida dos pacientes têm contribuído para a diminuição dos índices de morbidade da doença. Este artigo de EMC-D aborda a utilização de metotrexato e acitretina no tratamento da psoríase. A utilização de outros imunomoduladores e de terapias biológicas será objeto de próximo capítulo.

The physiopathology of psoriasis has not yet been thoroughly clarified. Although there has been undeniable progress in the last decade, doubts remain about the nature of the antigens, which lead to activation of T lymphocytes, and about the regulation of the inflammatory mechanisms. Besides the development of new therapies, the improved management of classical systemic treatments has contributed to reduce the morbidity rate of the disease and has achieved a positive impact on the patients' quality of life. Underscoring the importance of this, the EMC-D article focuses on a review of using Methotrexate and Acitretin in the treatment of psoriasis. The use of biological therapies and other immunomodulators will be discussed in a future chapter.