Bimekizumab for the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis With Involvement of Genitalia: A 16-Week Multicenter Real-World Experience—IL PSO (Italian Landscape Psoriasis)

Diego Orsini; Piergiorgio Malagoli; Anna Balato; Luca Bianchi; Pina Brianti; Dario Buononato; Martina Burlando; Giacomo Caldarola; Anna Campanati; Elena Campione; Carlo G. Carrera; Andrea Carugno; Francesco Cusano; Paolo Dapavo; Annunziata Dattola; Clara De Simone; Valentina Dini; Maria Esposito; Maria C. Fargnoli; Francesca M. Gaiani; Luigi Gargiulo; Paolo Gisondi; Alessandro Giunta; Luciano Ibba; Claudia Lasagni; Francesco Loconsole; Vincenzo Maione; Edoardo Mortato; Angelo V. Marzano; Martina Maurelli; Matteo Megna; Santo R. Mercuri; Alessandra Narcisi; Annamaria Offidani; Giovanni Paolino; Aurora Parodi; Giovanni Pellacani; Luca Potestio; Pietro Quaglino; Antonio G. Richetta; Francesca Romano; Paolo Sena; Marina Venturini; Chiara Assorgi; Antonio Costanzo

doi:10.5826/dpc.1402a52

Bimekizumab for the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis With Involvement of Genitalia: A 16-Week Multicenter Real-World Experience—IL PSO (Italian Landscape Psoriasis)

Authors

Diego Orsini Clinical Dermatology Unit, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Piergiorgio Malagoli Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Unit Azienda Ospedaliera San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
Anna Balato Dermatology Unit, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
Luca Bianchi Dermatology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Pina Brianti Unit of Dermatology and Cosmetology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
Dario Buononato Dermatology Unit, University of Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
Martina Burlando Section of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), IRCCS San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy
Giacomo Caldarola Section of Dermatology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart; Dermatology Unit, Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Anna Campanati Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences - Dermatological Clinic, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
Elena Campione Dermatology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Carlo G. Carrera Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
Andrea Carugno Dermatology Unit, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo; Molecular and Translational Medicine (DIMET), University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Francesco Cusano Department of Dermatology, Gaetano Rummo Hospital, Benevento, Italy
Paolo Dapavo Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Second Dermatologic Clinic, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
Annunziata Dattola Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Science, University of La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
Clara De Simone Section of Dermatology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart; Dermatology Unit, Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Valentina Dini Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Ospedale Santa Chiara, Pisa, Italy
Maria Esposito Dermatology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
Maria C. Fargnoli Dermatology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
Francesca M. Gaiani Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Unit Azienda Ospedaliera San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
Luigi Gargiulo Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
Paolo Gisondi Department of Medicine, Section of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
Alessandro Giunta Dermatology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Luciano Ibba Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
Claudia Lasagni Dermatological Clinic, Department of Specialized Medicine, University of Modena, Modena, Italy
Francesco Loconsole Department of Dermatology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Vincenzo Maione Department of Dermatology, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
Edoardo Mortato Department of Dermatology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Angelo V. Marzano Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
Martina Maurelli Department of Medicine, Section of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
Matteo Megna Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Santo R. Mercuri Unit of Dermatology and Cosmetology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute; Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
Alessandra Narcisi Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
Annamaria Offidani Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
Giovanni Paolino Unit of Dermatology and Cosmetology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
Aurora Parodi Section of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), IRCCS San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy
Giovanni Pellacani Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Science, University of La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
Luca Potestio Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Pietro Quaglino Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Second Dermatologic Clinic, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
Antonio G. Richetta Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Science, University of La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
Francesca Romano Dermatology Unit, AORN “A. Cardarelli”, Naples, Italy
Paolo Sena Dermatology Unit, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
Marina Venturini Department of Dermatology, ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
Chiara Assorgi Clinical Dermatology Unit, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, Rome; Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Antonio Costanzo Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy

Keywords:

immunomodulatory therapies, inflammatory skin diseases, psoriasis, psoriasis treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Genital involvement is observed in approximately 60% of patients with psoriasis, presenting clinicians with formidable challenges in treatment. While new biologic drugs have emerged as safe and effective options for managing psoriasis, their efficacy in challenging-to-treat areas remains inadequately explored. Intriguingly, studies have shown that interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors exhibit effectiveness in addressing genital psoriasis.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the effectiveness profile of bimekizumab in patients affected by moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis with involvement of genitalia.

Methods: Bimekizumab, a dual inhibitor of both IL-17A and IL-17F, was the focus of our 16-week study, demonstrating highly favorable outcomes for patients with genital psoriasis. The effectiveness of bimekizumab was evaluated in terms of improvement in Static Physician's Global Assessment of Genitalia (sPGA-G) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index.

Results: Sixty-five adult patients were enrolled. Remarkably, 98.4% of our participants achieved a clear sPGA-G score (s-PGA-g=0) within 16 weeks. Moreover, consistent improvements were observed in PASI scores, accompanied by a significant reduction in the mean Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), signifying enhanced quality of life. Notably, none of the patients reported a severe impairment in their quality of life after 16 weeks of treatment. In our cohort of 65 patients, subgroup analyses unveiled that the effectiveness of bimekizumab remained unaffected by prior exposure to other biologics or by obesity.

Conclusions: Our initial findings suggest that bimekizumab may serve as a valuable treatment option for genital psoriasis. Nevertheless, further research with larger sample sizes and longer-term follow-up is imperative to conclusively validate these results.

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