Clinical Research Directory

Psoriasis Comorbidities at Hospital Calderón Guardia

The goal of this observational study is to characterize the epidemiologic, clinical, severity, and therapeutic features of patients with psoriasis treated in Costa Rica between 2024 and 2025. The main questions it aims to answer are: What are the demographic and clinical characteristics and severity profiles of psoriasis patients? What treatments are used in routine clinical practice, and how are they associated with disease severity and outcomes? Patients with psoriasis receiving dermatologic care during the study period will be included. Data will be obtained retrospectively from electronic medical records and clinical registries without intervention or modification of treatment.

Costa Rican Registry of IL-23 Inhibitors in Psoriatic Disease

The goal of this observational registry study is to evaluate the real-world effectiveness and safety of IL-23 inhibitors in patients with psoriatic disease (psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis) treated in Costa Rica. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do IL-23 inhibitors (guselkumab or risankizumab) improve disease severity and quality of life in patients with psoriatic disease in routine clinical practice? * What is the safety profile and treatment persistence of IL-23 inhibitors in this population? * Patients receiving IL-23 inhibitors as part of their usual medical care will be followed longitudinally using standardized clinical measures (e.g., PASI, DLQI, DAPSA/BASDAI) and adverse-event reporting through a national registry.

A Study of Clinical and Immune Responses to Sequential Biologic Therapies in Psoriatic Arthritis

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate how well advanced therapies work in adults with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who are starting a biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD) as part of routine care. The main questions are: * Do treatment responses differ according to the number of previous advanced therapies? * Can anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) or blood drug levels help predict treatment effectiveness? Researchers will compare participants receiving earlier-line versus later-line advanced therapies to assess differences in treatment response and antibody development. Participants will allow collection of routine clinical assessment data, complete questionnaires on symptoms and quality of life, and provide blood samples before treatment and at 12 weeks.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Non-diabetic Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis

Background Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are cardiovascular protective in diabetics. They have also anti-inflammatory properties. It is hypothesized GLP-1 receptor agonists can prevent the progression of atherosclerosis due to the combination of metabolic factors and disease activity control in non-diabetic PsA patients. Objectives To investigate the vascular effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists in PsA patients without diabetes. Their metabolic and anti-inflammatory roles will also be examined. Design and subjects This is a pilot randomized open-labelled trial. We plan to enroll 40 non-diabetic patients with PsA. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to either GLP-1 receptor agonist (semaglutide) or control group. Study instruments Subclinical carotid artherosclerosis is assessed by high-resolution ultrasound. Arterial stiffness is measured using pulse wave velocity by a tonometry system, and augmentation index by the SphygmoCor device. These assessments will be done at baseline and 24 weeks. Drug adversities will also be documented. Anthropometric measurements, sugar metabolism and lipid levels as well as the PsA disease activity will be monitored.

A Multi-center RCT Clinical Trial on Personalized Precision Medicine for Patients With Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis and Investigation on Cardiovascular Biomarkers

The inclusion criteria for this study were patients aged 18 to 75 years with a confirmed diagnosis of psoriasis by a dermatologist or psoriatic arthritis by a rheumatologist. Patients with active infections or suspected malignancies were excluded. A total of 40 patients with psoriasis, with or without psoriatic arthritis, were enrolled from multiple centers in Taiwan. All participants were recruited from the outpatient clinics of either the Department of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology or the Department of Dermatology in tertiary hospitals across Taiwan. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Prescreen Strategy-Based Biologics Selection Group Standard-Based Biologics Selection Group Patients will be followed up at weeks 4, 8, 12, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, and 72. Follow-up may be extended up to 3 years if necessary. Clinical assessments will include: Primary endpoints: PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index), painful joint count, swollen joint count, and DAPSA (Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis) score. Secondary endpoints: DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index), BSA (Body Surface Area), pruritus score, and internal carotid artery thickness measured at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years.

Molecular Inflammation Board at the Center for Personalized Medicine

Molecular Inflammation Board at the Center for Personalized Medicine

Typological Study of Sleep Pathologies During Psoriatic Rheumatism and SAPHO Syndrome: Prospective Study Within the Paris Saint-Joseph Hospital Group"

Chronic inflammatory rheumatisms (CIR) are a source of motor disability and various comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular and metabolic. They also significantly impact patients' quality of life, including sleep disturbances. Among CIRs, psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory arthropathy associated with psoriasis, typically seronegative for rheumatoid factor. This heterogeneous disease affects peripheral and/or axial joints and can include extra-articular manifestations such as uveitis and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. Its prevalence is estimated between 0.3% and 1% in the general population. SAPHO syndrome, similar to psoriatic arthritis, is characterized by specific bone involvement with a hypertrophic tendency, often affecting the axial skeleton and the anterior thoracic wall. Pain and inflammation are closely linked to sleep quality, creating a vicious cycle where pain disrupts sleep and poor sleep amplifies pain perception. Analgesic treatments, such as opioids, can also cause nocturnal respiratory pathologies, further disrupting sleep. Inflammatory processes are regulated by sleep, influencing plasma concentrations of CRP, IL6, and TNF production. Patients with psoriatic arthritis or SAPHO syndrome share common risk factors with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS), such as obesity, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. Sleep disorders are common in the general population and likely underdiagnosed in these patients. Several studies suggest a link between sleep disorders and these rheumatic conditions, affecting quality of life and exacerbating symptoms. Questionnaires like the Epworth and Pichot scales provide a more precise evaluation of these symptoms. However, objective sleep exploration through polysomnography has never been conducted in these patients. In summary, CIRs, particularly psoriatic arthritis and SAPHO syndrome, significantly impact patients' quality of life and sleep, necessitating appropriate evaluation and management of associated sleep disorders.

A Prospective Study to Assess the Efficacy of IL-17 Inhibitors on Subclinical Enthesitis in Patients With Moderate to Severe Psoriasis Based on Power Doppler (PD) Ultrasonography (PDUS)

It is an observational, single-center, prospective, exploratory, open-label study to assess the efficacy and safety of IL-17 inhibitors on subclinical enthesitis in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis with subclinical enthesitis based on Power Doppler (PD) Ultrasonography (PDUS)

Potential Role of Guselkumab in Modulating PAIN Perception and Related Gene Pathways: a Proof-of-concept Study.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic musculoskeletal disease that affects 0.1%-1% of the general population and about 20% of patients with psoriasis. Patients with PsA have a multifaceted pain experience, which depends on various factors, including joint inflammation, as well as peripheral and central pain sensitization. Although chronic pain is the most common symptom of PsA, few is known about the mechanisms driving it. From this point of view, the interactions between immune cells and nociceptors in the context of inflammation-related pain are emerging as a hot topic. Many studies suggested that IL-23/IL-17 pathway may play a pivotal role in this regard. This is consistent with data currently available regarding Guselkumab in PsA. Indeed, according to DISCOVER 1 and DISCOVER 2, two randomized phase III trials, patients receiving Guselkumab achieved, among others, minimal disease activity state, significant improvement in the SF-36 physical component score, and visual analog scale of pain. This study proposal aims to evaluate the potential role of Guselkumab in modulating pain perception in PsA patients from a molecular, cellular, and electrophysiological point of view.

Exploratory Clinical Study on Fasting in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (RiseFast)

The RiseFast pilot study will investigate the clinical, metabolic and immunological effects of fasting and plant-based diet (PBD) on patients with psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) on their gut microbiota. The project will combine clinical assessments, cytometric profiling, and gut microbiota analysis to explore the relationship between fasting, a plant-based diet, and psoriatic disease. The study includes a 7-day fasting period followed by 11 weeks of PBD, with the goal of improving disease activity, quality of life, and understanding the role of gut microbiota in these conditions. This approach could lead to low-cost, accessible therapeutic options with minimal side effects.