Psoriasis in Difficult-to-Treat Areas: A Multicentre, Real-World Retrospective Study Analyzing the Impact of Non-Invasive Imaging Techniques (Dermoscopy, Reflectance Confocal Microscopy and Optical Coherence Tomography) to Monitor the Effectiveness of Risankizumab in the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis of the Legs

TL;DR

This study shows that non-invasive imaging techniques can effectively monitor how well risankizumab treats psoriasis on the legs.

Contribution

The study introduces the use of non-invasive imaging to track treatment response in psoriasis of the legs, a difficult-to-treat area.

Findings

Non-invasive imaging showed significant normalization of vascular patterns and skin architecture after risankizumab treatment.

Lesions with baseline haemorrhagic dots had a higher chance of complete clearance at Week 4.

Epidermal and stratum corneum thickness decreased significantly with treatment.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of non-invasive imaging techniques such as dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to monitor the efficacy of risankizumab on plaque psoriasis of the legs by analyzing morpho-histological changes. Materials and Methods: Multicentre, real-world retrospective study involving 37 adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Assessments performed during routine visits at baseline, Week 4 and Week 12 included clinical response, dermoscopy, RCM and OCT. Results: Thirty-seven patients were included (mean age 52.1 years; 54% male; mean BMI 27.0 kg/m2). Dermoscopy showed progressive vascular normalization: at Week 12, 94.29% of lesions had minimal or no vascular pattern. White and yellow scales decreased significantly. On RCM, dilated vessels, inflammatory infiltrate, and papillomatosis progressively normalized. OCT showed reduction in epidermal and stratum corneum thickness and a decline in vascular intensity at multiple depths. Baseline haemorrhagic dots predicted early complete response: 44.8% of lesions with dots achieved complete clearance at Week 4 versus 0% without. Conclusions: Risankizumab induced rapid, significant regression of psoriatic changes, normalizing vascular patterns and skin architecture and reducing epidermal thickness. Findings support its efficacy and rapid onset of action in difficult-to-treat areas and highlight the value of non-invasive imaging for monitoring.

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