HIGH-FREQUENCY ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS IN THE EVALUATION OF THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS VULGARIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22551/eam61f66Abstract
Plaque psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease which represents a global health problem. The main objective of the study was to determine the monitoring performance of non-invasive tests of high frequency ultrasonography (HFUS) in psoriasis vulgaris. Materials and methods: In a prospective interventional analytic study, we aimed to assess whether the first chronologically obtained change in psoriasis plaque assessment in monitored patients was a decrease in psoriasis plaque thickness and subepidermal hypoechoic band as compared to baseline values. The study was carried over a period of 8 weeks and included 50 patients diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris in the Dermatology Clinic of the “Sf. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Iasi. We assessed the evolution under topical (calcipotriol/betamethasone 50 micrograms/0.5mg/g gel or fluticasone propionate 0.05% cream in combination with lipolotion urea 10%) combined with systemic (Etanercept) in severe forms of disease. Target lesions of psoriasis vulgaris were analyzed by clinical examination and by HFUS. Results: The results showed that the first change obtained chronologically was the decrease in psoriasis plaque thickness and subepidermal hypoechoic band in the target plaque as compared to baseline values (i.e. at week 4 compared to week 0). After comparing the mean values of psoriasis plaque tegument thickness and hypoechoic subepidermal band thickness, we found that they decrease significantly both in week 4 compared to week 0 and in week 8 compared to week 4. Conclusions. HFUS examination allows an objective and reproducible measurement of skin thickness and is a useful technique for a non-invasive assessment of treatment efficacy in psoriasis.
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