Premium
A prospective observational study of pigmented naevi changes in psoriasis patients on biologic therapy
Author(s) -
Choi Seohee Deanne,
D'Souza Mario I,
Menzies Scott W,
Weninger Wolfgang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/ajd.12838
Subject(s) - medicine , confidence interval , psoriasis , dermatology , rate ratio , incidence (geometry) , observational study , prospective cohort study , nevus , melanoma , cohort study , natural history , relative risk , family history , physics , cancer research , optics
Abstract Background/Objectives Patients on biologic therapy are thought to be at increased risk of developing non‐melanoma skin cancers and melanomas. It is unknown whether biologic therapy alters the natural history of melanocytic naevi. Therefore, a prospective observational study was conducted to determine whether psoriasis patients on biologic therapy develop changes in naevi. Methods Clinical and dermoscopic assessment of all melanocytic naevi was performed in 45 psoriasis patients on biologic therapy versus a control cohort of 43 subjects, using sequential digital dermoscopic imaging and total body photography. The mean follow‐up period was 1.5 years. Results The study and control patients had comparable age, gender, previous and family history of non‐melanoma skin cancers and melanomas, as well as previous sun exposure and total number of naevi. The number of naevi with major dermoscopic changes was 3% in the study and 1.9% in the control group, with an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 1.45 (95% confidence interval 0.90–2.33; P = 0.125). The rate of minor changes was 15.9% in the study group versus 19.4% in the control (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.57–1.08; P = 0.14). There were six new dysplastic naevi in 4/45 biologic patients and four in 4/43 controls; however, the difference was not significant (relative risk 0.96, 95% confidence interval −0.12 to 0.12; P = 0.95). There were no melanomas in either group. Conclusion Over a mean follow‐up period of 1.5 years there was no evidence of significantly different changes in naevi or development of new dysplastic naevi in psoriasis patients on biologic treatment compared to controls.