Literature Review: Plaque Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common chronic skin disease characterized by cutaneous inflammation and epidermal hyperproliferation. A study on the global epidemiology of psoriasis found that the skin disorder affects approximately 2% to 4% of the population in Western countries. The prevalence in children ranges from 0% to 2.1% and in adults from 0.91% to 8.5% [J Invest Dermatol. 2013;133(2):377-385]. Almost 90% of individuals with psoriasis have plaque psoriasis, which is the most common form of the disease. Plaque psoriasis appears as raised, red patches covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells or scales. These patches or plaques most often appear on the scalp, knees, elbows, and lower back, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Currently, there is no known cure for psoriasis. Treatments that can reduce or eliminate patient symptoms include biologics, systemic medications, topical formulations, phototherapy, and oral treatments. Several new drugs are under investigation for psoriasis treatment, including small molecules and biotechnology products. For this literature review, First Report Managed Care identified 3 studies that examined the role of these novel therapies with a focus on phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. This article provides an overview of these studies.