Journal Digest: January 9

The Lancet: Efficacy and Safety of Ligelizumab in Adults and Adolescents With Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Results of Two Phase 3 Randomised Controlled Trials

In 2 phase 3 studies, Maurer et al evaluated the efficacy and safety of ligelizumab, a potential treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) refractory to H1-antihistamines. The PEARL-1 and PEARL-2 trials included 2057 adult patients across 46 countries. Ligelizumab, administered every 4 weeks, showed significant improvement in urticaria symptoms compared to placebo, demonstrated by the change-from-baseline in weekly Urticaria Activity Score at week 12. However, while both doses of ligelizumab were superior to placebo, they did not surpass the efficacy of omalizumab. The safety profile of ligelizumab remained consistent with previous studies, indicating a potential option for managing refractory CSU.

Frontiers in Medicine: Artificial Intelligence for Skin Cancer Detection and Classification for Clinical Environment: A Systematic Review

Furriel et al’s systematic review explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the early detection of skin cancer, considering the rising global incidence. With a focus on efficacy, safety, and ethical considerations, the study authors conducted a literature search, identified 760 studies, and selected 18 relevant ones based on inclusion criteria. These studies primarily addressed the development, implementation, and validation of AI systems for detecting, diagnosing, and classifying skin cancer in clinical settings. The review emphasizes the potential of AI to revolutionize early detection but underscores the importance of collaboration with healthcare professionals to ensure clinical effectiveness and safety.

SKIN – The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine: Blood Pressure Monitoring for Minoxidil Therapy in Alopecia Patients

Kincaid et al’s retrospective study investigated the impact of low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) on blood pressure (BP) in patients with alopecia. Analyzing data from 89 patients, the study found a nonsignificant reduction in average systolic (-1.55 mmHg) and diastolic (-1.61 mmHg) BP between baseline and 5-month follow-up visits. Subgroup analyses did not reveal significant differences based on alopecia subtype, comorbid hypertension, or LDOM dosage (1.25 vs. 2.5mg daily). According to the authors, the study supports previous literature, indicating that daily LDOM for alopecia does not significantly affect BP. However, limitations include a small sample size and retrospective design, emphasizing the need for larger prospective studies.

Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology: Treatment Satisfaction and Acceptability of 20% Aminolevulinic Acid Photodynamic Therapy for the Treatment of Actinic Keratoses of the Face, Scalp, and Upper Extremities

Piacquadio et al’s study assesses patient satisfaction and acceptability of aminolevulinic acid 20% solution (ALA) with blue light photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treating actinic keratoses (AKs) on the face, scalp, and upper extremities. In 3 separate studies, ALA-PDT demonstrated high patient satisfaction compared to vehicle (VEH)-PDT. Patients treated with ALA-PDT reported being very or moderately satisfied, with higher proportions than those receiving VEH-PDT. ALA-PDT was also considered more acceptable than various prior treatments, including cryotherapy, 5-fluorouracil, and imiquimod. The authors’ findings suggest that ALA-PDT is well-received by patients for AK treatment, supporting its effectiveness and acceptability over multiple areas of the body.

What new studies have you published? Share with us by emailing DTEditor@mmhgroup.com.