Effectiveness of adalimumab in the treatment of scalp and nail affection in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in routine clinical practice

Introduction: Data on the effectiveness of biologics the treatment of nail and scalp psoriasis (PSO) in a routine clinical setting are scarce. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the effectiveness of adalimumab in the treatment of nail and scalp psoriatic lesions in routine dermatologic practice. Methods: Five hundred one patients were analyzed in this observational study; 157 patients had nail involvement (nail PSO set; NPS) and 404 had scalp involvement (scalp PSO set; SPS). Patients treated with adalimumab were observed for up to 12 months. Outcomes were evaluated via changes in the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI), Psoriasis Scalp Severity Index (PSSI), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and QoL (using the Dermatology Life Quality Index). Results: Eighty-four percent of the patients in the NPS and 93.8% in the SPS achieved a good clinical response upon treatment with adalimumab. Complete clearing of local symptoms was achieved by 33.3% of the patients with nail involvement and 66.7% of the patients with scalp involvement. There was also a marked improvement in QoL. Conclusion: Adalimumab appears to be an effective treatment for scalp and nail PSO in patients with moderate to severe plaque PSO. No new clinical concerns were established.