Defining and Treating Moderate Plaque Psoriasis: A Dermatologist Survey.

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Defining and Treating Moderate Plaque Psoriasis: A Dermatologist Survey.

J Dermatolog Treat. 2018 Mar 05;:1-20

Authors: Knuckles MLF, Levi E, Soung J

Abstract
PURPOSE: Patients with moderate plaque psoriasis are often undertreated and may experience unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Undertreatment may stem partly from a lack of consensus on the definition of moderate psoriasis and appropriate treatments for patients with moderate disease severity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was conducted during October 2015 to determine how US dermatologists in the clinical setting define and treat moderate psoriasis.
RESULTS: A total of 150 dermatologists responded to the survey (mean time in practice: 13.5 years). On average, they saw 72 patients with psoriasis per month; 40% of these patients were considered to have moderate psoriasis. Most (95%) reported assessing disease severity based on the percentage of psoriasis-affected body surface area (BSA); 59% also considered location of the affected area. BSA cutoffs used to define moderate psoriasis varied widely (median low and high cutoffs: 5% to 10%; range: 1% to 70%). Similarly, wide variation in cutoff ranges was observed for the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Physician Global Assessment (PGA), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Primary therapy comprised biologics (47%), prescription topicals (28%), and oral systemics (18%).
CONCLUSIONS: The current findings indicate lack of consensus surrounding the definition of moderate psoriasis among US dermatologists.

PMID: 29502473 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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