dose reduction in psoriasis

Original Investigation 

February 12, 2020

Comparison of Tightly Controlled Dose Reduction of Biologics With Usual Care for Patients With PsoriasisA Randomized Clinical Trial

Selma Atalay, MD, PhD¹; Juul M. P. A. van den Reek, MD, PhD¹; Alfons A. den Broeder, MD, PhD²; et alLieke J. van Vugt, MD, PhD¹; Marisol E. Otero, MSc¹; Marcellus D. Njoo, MD, PhD³; Johannes M. Mommers, MD⁴; Paul M. Ossenkoppele, MD⁵; Marjolein I. Koetsier, MD⁶; Maartje A. Berends, MD⁷; Peter C. M. van de Kerkhof, MD, PhD¹; Hans M. M. Groenewoud, MSc²; Wietske Kievit, PhD⁸; Elke M. G. J. de Jong, MD, PhD¹

Author Affiliations

JAMA Dermatol. Published online February 12, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.4897

 

Full Text

Key Points

Question  Is a dose-reduction strategy of biologics noninferior to usual care in patients with stable psoriasis?

Findings  In this noninferiority randomized clinical trial of patients with plaque psoriasis, noninferiority could not be demonstrated for the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index at 12 months (dose reduction strategy vs usual care), although the mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index difference was small. For the Dermatology Life Quality Index, noninferiority could be demonstrated, and dose tapering did not lead to more persistent flares.

Meaning  Dose reduction in real-life situations is possible, but a tight control scheme that monitors the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and Dermatology Life Quality Index is warranted.

Abstract

Importance  Biologics revolutionized the treatment of psoriasis. Biologics are given in a fixed dose, but lower doses might be possible.

Objective  To investigate whether dose reduction (DR) of biologics in patients with stable psoriasis is noninferior to usual care (UC).

Design, Setting, and Participants  This pragmatic, open-label, prospective, controlled, noninferiority randomized clinical trial was conducted from March 1, 2016, to July 22, 2018, at 6 dermatology departments in the Netherlands. A total of 120 patients with plaque psoriasis and stable low disease activity who were receiving treatment with adalimumab, etanercept, or ustekinumab were studied.

Interventions  Patients were randomized 1:1 to DR (n = 60) or UC (n = 60). In the DR group, injection intervals were prolonged stepwise, leading to 67% and 50% of the original dose.

Main Outcomes and Measures  The primary outcome was between-group difference in disease activity corrected for baseline at 12 months compared with the predefined noninferiority margin of 0.5. Secondary outcomes were Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score and health-related quality of life (including Dermatology Life Quality Index [DLQI] and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey scores), proportion of patients with short and persistent flares (defined as PASI and/or DLQI scores >5 for ≥3 months), and proportion of patients with successful dose tapering.

Results  Of 120 patients (mean [SD] age, 54.0 [13.2] years; 82 [68%] male), 2 patients were lost to follow-up, 2 patients had a protocol violation, and 5 patients had a protocol deviation, leaving 111 patients for the per-protocol analysis (53 in the DR group and 58 in the UC group). The median PASI scores at month 12 were 3.4 (interquartile range [IQR], 2.2-4.5) in the DR group and 2.1 (IQR, 0.6-3.6) in the UC group (mean difference, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.7-1.8). This indicates that noninferiority was not demonstrated for DR compared to UC. The median DLQI score at month 12 was 1.0 (IQR, 0.0-2.0) in the DR group and 0.0 (IQR, 0.0-2.0) in the UC group (mean difference, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.3-1.3), indicating noninferiority for DR compared with UC. No significant difference was found regarding persistent flares between groups (n = 5 in both groups). Twenty-eight patients (53%; 95% CI, 39%-67%) in the DR group tapered their dose successfully at 12 months. No severe adverse events related to the intervention occurred.

Conclusions and Relevance  In this trial, noninferiority was not demonstrated for DR of adalimumab, etanercept, and ustekinumab based on the PASI in patients with psoriasis compared with UC with the chosen noninferiority margin. However, the strategy was noninferior based on the DLQI. Dose tapering did not lead to persistent flares or safety issues.

Trial Registration  ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02602925