Impact of Ixekizumab on Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Plaque PsoriasisImpact of Ixekizumab on Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Plaque Psoriasis Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, affects approximately 2% of children and adolescents. Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis can significantly impact their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Ixekizumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets IL-17A, has shown promising results in treating plaque psoriasis in adults. However, its impact on HRQoL in children and adolescents is less understood. Study Design A study presented at the Society of Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) annual conference evaluated the responses in each domain of the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in children and adolescents treated with ixekizumab for 108 weeks. The study included 171 patients randomized to receive ixekizumab (n = 115) or placebo (n = 56) in a double-blind induction period, followed by an open-label maintenance and extension period up to 108 weeks. Results Patients treated with ixekizumab experienced improvements in every domain of the CDLQI (symptoms and feelings, leisure time, school or vacations, personal relationships, sleep, and treatment) and DLQI (symptoms and feelings, leisure time, work and school, personal relationships, daily activities, and treatment) as early as week 4, with further reductions observed through week 108. The percentage of patients reporting no impact on their life from plaque psoriasis (CDLQI/DLQI 0/1) increased from 6.5% at baseline to more than 60% of patients at week 6 and 12, increasing to 76% at week 108. Conclusion The study suggests that ixekizumab can provide early and lasting improvements in HRQoL for children and adolescents with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. These findings support the role of ixekizumab in improving the overall well-being and quality of life in this patient population.
Pediatric patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis showed early and sustained improvements in each domain of the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) after 108 weeks of treatment with ixekixumab, according to a poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) annual conference in Toronto, Canada.1
In the current study, investigators aimed to evaluate responses in each domain of the CDLQI and DLQI in children and adolescents treated with ixekizumab for 108 weeks.
Plaque psoriasis can have a major impact on health-related quality of life in pediatric patients. Ixekizumab is a high-affinity monoclonal antibody that targets IL-17A and is used to treat inflammatory diseases, including plaque psoriasis. In a previous head-to-head study, ixekizumab outperformed adalimumab in improving joint and skin disease in patients with psoriatic arthritis.2
In the current study, investigators aimed to evaluate responses in each domain of the CDLQI and DLQI in children and adolescents treated with ixekizumab for 108 weeks.1
The study included a total of 171 patients who were randomized to receive ixekizumab (n = 115) or placebo (n = 56) in a double-blind induction period. All patients entered an open-label maintenance and extension period up to 108 weeks.
Patients were between 6 and 17 years of age and were eligible for phototherapy or systemic treatment or were considered inadequately controlled by topical therapies. In addition, concomitant therapies were allowed, including topical steroids, shampoo, moisturizers/emollients, bath oils, and oatmeal bath preparations. In addition, patients had to have a diagnosis of moderate to severe PsO for 6 or more months.
Exclusion criteria included prior use of etanercept or an IL-17 pathway inhibitor and prior use of other therapies within specified time frames.
The researchers used the CDLQI for patients aged 6 to 16 years and the DLQIO for patients aged 17 years. Each questionnaire had a total of 10 questions covering 6 domains, with each question scored 0 = not at all; 1 = only a little; 2 = quite a lot; and 3 = very much. In addition, the questionnaires were evaluated on a general scale of 0-30, with higher numbers being associated with a greater impact on the patient’s life in the past week.
The CDLQI domain included symptoms and feelings, leisure time, school or vacations, personal relationships, sleep, and treatment. The DLQI domain included symptoms and feelings, leisure time, work and school, personal relationships, daily activities, and treatment.
The analysis population included all patients randomized to ixekizumab at week 0 and who continued to receive ixekizumab through week 108 (n = 94). In addition, investigators observed data presented at each time point from weeks 0 through 108, including mean (SD) change from baseline for each domain of the CDLQI and DLQI, and the percentage of patients achieving CDLQI/DLQI 0/1.
Of the included participants, the mean (SD) age was 14.1 (2.9) years, with 54 (57.4%) female. Patients treated with ixezkizumab experienced improvements in every domain of the CDLQI (n = 67) and DLQI (n = 25) as early as week 4, with further reductions observed through week 108. In addition, the percentage of patients reporting that plaque psoriasis had no impact on their life, according to CDLQI/DLQI 0/1, increased from 6.5% at baseline to more than 60% of patients at week 6 and 12, increasing to 76% at week 108.
The researchers therefore believe that the study supports that ixekizumab can provide early and lasting improvements in quality of life for children and adolescents with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
References
1. Pinter A, Bobonich M, Swanson E, et al. Children’s dermatology life quality index responses in pediatric patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with ixekizumab over a 2-year period – Results from the randomized IXORA-PEDS trial. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Dermatology (SPD 2024); July 11-24, 2024; Toronto Canada
2. Davio K. Head-to-head study shows ixekizumab outperforms adalimumab in psoriatic arthritis. The Center for Biosimilars®. October 3, 2019. https://www.centerforbiosimilars.com/view/headtohead-study-shows-ixekizumab-outperforms-adalimumab-in-psoriatic-arthritis
