Luigi Naldi

San Bortolo Hospital · Department of Dermatology

Skin cancer incidence is increasing worldwide. Clear communication between dermatologists and histopathologists, along with the possibility of sharing clinical images, is critically important. This survey aims to depict the level of communication between dermatologists and histopathologists in clinical practice in Italy. A group of histopathologist...

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by different pathomechanisms, clinical presentations, and prognoses. Treatment is often challenging because of limited approved drugs, and severe CHE is associated with reduced quality of life (QoL) and poor overall health measures in terms of psychological, functional, and o...

The large language model (LLM) ChatGPT can answer open-ended and complex questions, but its accuracy in providing reliable medical information requires a careful assessment. As part of the AICHECK (Artificial Intelligence for CME Health E-learning Contents and Knowledge) Study, aimed at evaluating the potential of ChatGPT in continuous medical educ...

Importance Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic and debilitating skin condition, characterized by intense itch with multiple nodular lesions. Nemolizumab demonstrated significant improvements in itch and skin nodules in adults with moderate to severe PN in a previous 16-week phase 3 study (OLYMPIA 2). Objective To assess the efficacy and occurrence...

Introduction Oral antifungals are the treatment choice for onychomycosis, and topical therapies are favored in cases of limited nail involvement. Recently, carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment has emerged as an option to enhance the effectiveness of topical therapies. Objectives Our objective was to compare the efficacy of fractional ablative and...

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by recurrent and painful nodules and abscesses in intertriginous skin areas, which can progress to sinus tract formation, tissue destruction, and scarring. HS is highly debilitating and severely impairs the psychological well-being and quality of life of patients. Th...

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a heterogeneous disease, associated with comorbidities, and high healthcare consumptions and costs. This study assessed the burden before and after treatment with dupilumab in adults with severe AD from 2018 to 2020, from the perspective of the Italian National Health Service (SSN). Methods: From Fondazione...

Background: The efficacy and safety of dupilumab in atopic dermatitis (AD) have been defined in clinical trials but limited real-world evidence on long term treatment outcomes are currently available to inform clinical decisions. Objectives: to describe long-term effectiveness and safety of dupilumab up to 48 months in patients with moderate-to-se...

SIDeMaST (Società Italiana di Dermatologia Medica, Chirurgica, Estetica e delle Malattie Sessualmente Trasmesse) contributed to the development of the present guideline on the systemic treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. With the permission of EuroGuiDerm, SIDeMaST adapted the guideline to the Italian healthcare context to supply a reliable and...

The evidence- and consensus-based guideline on atopic eczema, published in JEADV on 18 August 2022 (part 1) and 3 September 2022 (part 2) was developed in accordance with the EuroGuiDerm Guideline and Consensus Statement Development Manual. Four consensus conferences were held between December 2020 and July 2021. Twenty-nine experts (including clin...

SIDeMaST (Società Italiana di Dermatologia Medica, Chirurgica, Estetica e delle Malattie Sessualmente Trasmesse) contributed to the development of the present guideline on the systemic treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. With the permission of EuroGuiDerm, SIDeMaST adapted the guideline to the Italian healthcare context to supply a reliable and...

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease that affects the hair follicles of the scalp and the rest of the body causing hair loss. Due to the unpredictable course of AA and the different degrees of severity of hair loss, only a few well-designed clinical studies with a low number of patients are available. Also, ther...

Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, goes beyond visible symptoms and affects the general well-being of patients. The aim of this study is to understand how patients with psoriasis perceive their skin characteristics and reactivity to allergens. The study population includes 11,283 participants within the European Dermato-Epidemiology Ne...

b> Introduction: Onychomycosis is the most common nail infection, predominantly caused by Trichophyton spp., and is divided into four main types. Confirmatory testing is crucial, but obtaining an adequate sample may be challenging. We suggest the use of carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser for painlessly detaching the nail plate during mycological...

Preferentially Expressed Antigen in Melanoma (PRAME), a member of the cancer/testis antigen family, is central to the field of skin cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. As a nuclear receptor and transcriptional regulator, PRAME plays a critical role in inhibiting retinoic acid signalling, which is essential for cell differentiation and proliferatio...

Background: Limited real-world data are available on upadacitinib drug survival in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Objectives: To investigate upadacitinib drug survival, and the reasons and predictors of drug discontinuation in AD patients. Methods: All consecutive patients aged 18–75 years, affected by moderate-to-severe AD, and treated with...

b> Background: Nail psoriasis poses challenges for effective treatment, and topical drug delivery through the nail plate is limited. A novel approach to address this challenge involves the use of ablative fractional laser as a pretreatment strategy to enhance topical drug delivery for nail psoriasis. Summary: This systematic review, conducted in ac...

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, intensely pruritic disease associated with significant patient burden. Recent advancements in AD pathogenesis have expanded its therapeutics pipeline. Tralokinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds specifically Interleukin (IL)-13, inhibiting the downstream IL-13 signaling. Phase 3 c...

In this issue of the BJD, George et al. summarize data on the incidence and prevalence of actinic keratosis (AK) worldwide, by performing a systematic review of the available studies and by compiling a metanalysis.¹ They report a global prevalence of 14% and an incidence rate of approximately 1.9 per 1000 person years. These estimates represent ave...

This comprehensive review offers a detailed look at atopic dermatitis (AD) treatment in Italy, focusing primarily on the use of biologics and small molecules. In response to advancing knowledge of AD's causes and treatments, there's a global need for updated guidelines to provide physicians with a more comprehensive clinical perspective, facilitati...

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory disease that can occur alone or in association with arthritis. There is still controversy about whether it should be separated from psoriasis or classified as pustular psoriasis. Furthermore, drug-induced paradoxical PPP is a special variant of PPP that differs from classic PPP in...

A 14-year-old boy presented with a history of non-tender, subcutaneous coalescing nodules located on the ventral-lateral aspects of the penis shaft for one year. Laboratory investigations for blood count and autoimmunity were within normal limits. Complete excision was performed, and on histology, the dermis showed necrobiotic material composed of...

Background: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease with either skin or joints manifestations, or both, and it has a major impact on quality of life. Although there is currently no cure for psoriasis, various treatment strategies allow sustained control of disease signs and symptoms. The relative benefit of these treatments remains unclear due to...

Background: Dissecting cellulitis (DC) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis that leads to cicatricial alopecia. Although DC and Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have similar characteristics, their association remains poorly understood. Objectives: In this prospective observational study, we used trichoscopy to identify subclinical signs of DC in male...

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disease, clinically characterized by purpuric, itchy papules that typically spread on the trunk and extremities. Other body sites can also be affected, including mucosal membranes, nails, and the scalp. The use of dermoscopy is essential in determining the diagnosis of LP, as it may highlight pathognomon...

Introduction: Phototherapy has been one of the first and still frequently used treatment modality for psoriasis. In the last decades, different types of lasers have been used for the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases with variable success. Areas covered: Efficacy and safety of laser devices and intense pulsed light for...

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Background: Limited data exist to predict the development of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in psoriasis (PsO) patients OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors associated with incident PsA in PsO patients, and to develop a predictive algorithm for progression to arthritis using a full set of variables and a restricted one applicable to administrative data. Meth...

https://doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljad005 B-cell depletion therapy with rituximab undoubtedly represents the most significant advance in the management of pemphigus since the introduction of corticosteroids. Providing complete remission in 80–90% of patients, rituximab will likely remain the best-in-class therapy for years to come, despite the identifica...

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a severe and life-threatening systemic disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Recent progress has been made in understanding the pathogenetic pathways involved in GPP and an intricate interaction between innate and adaptive immune mechanisms has been suggested. Despite formal consensus g...

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) was recently approved by the European Medicines Agency for systemic treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Appropriate management of DMF treatment is required to achieve optimal clinical benefits. Seven dermatology experts gathered online for three meetings to identify consensus on use of DMF in patient se...

Background Non-adherence to immune-modifying therapy is a complex behaviour which, before the COVID-19 pandemic, was shown to be associated with mental health disorders in people with immune-mediated diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in the global prevalence of anxiety and depression, and limited data exist on the association betwee...

Psoriasis is a complex disease often needing a multidisciplinary approach. In particular, the collaboration between dermatologist and rheumatologist is crucial for the management of patients suffering from both psoriasis (PSO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Here we report a series of recommendations from a group of experts, as a result of a Consens...

This open-label multicentre trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of oral dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in real-life clinical practice over 52 weeks. Disease severity and improvement were assessed using the psoriasis area severity index (PASI), body surface area (BSA) affected, and Physician Global A...

Linked Article: Wei et al. Br J Dermatol 2022; 187:684–691.

Smartphone apps may help promoting the early diagnosis of melanoma. The reliability of specialist judgment on lesions should be assessed. Hereby, we evaluated the agreement of six young dermatologists, after a specific training. Clinical judgment was evaluated during two online sessions, one month apart, on a series of 45 pigmentary lesions. Lesion...

Erythrodermic psoriasis (EP), clinically defined as prominent erythema and scaling affecting almost the entire skin surface, is a severe form and a rare variant of psoriasis. The treatment may require hospital admission with monitoring of vital signs and use of immunosuppressive drugs. Newer biological drugs, including anti-TNF, anti-IL-17, and ant...

Introduction: Angiosarcomas (AS) are rare and aggressive neoplasms originating from the endothelium: they represent less than 2% of all soft tissue sarcomas and usually have a poor prognosis. Although more often primary, different risk factors have been described and some cases are associated with vascular surgery. Materials and Methods: We presen...

Background: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease with either skin or joints manifestations, or both, and it has a major impact on quality of life. Although there is currently no cure for psoriasis, various treatment strategies allow sustained control of disease signs and symptoms. The relative benefit of these treatments remains unclear due to...

Dermatoses affecting palms may represent a dermatologic challenge from both the diagnostic, and therapeutic point of view. Patients with supposedly occupational dermatitis can spend months or even years in a frustrating attempt to avoid contact with possible irritants or allergens. To underline the importance of a thorough unbiased analysis of the...

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To mitigate the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, many countries have imposed the public use of face masks. We investigated attitudes and skin reactions in the Italian individuals wearing face masks during the pandemic. A cross-sectional survey on a random sample (N=1,001) of the Italian adult population was conducted in May 2020 by th...

Retronychia is an inflammatory disorder typical of the great toes characterized by arrested nail growth, ingrowth of the nail plate into the proximal nail fold and paronychia. There is no standardized treatment for retronychia, and its management should be weighed based on the severity stage, treatment modality, and clinical outcome. In this paper,...

Introduction Le nombre de traitements systémiques (TS) disponibles dans l’indication psoriasis modéré à sévère a augmenté de façon considérable durant les 20 dernières années. La méta-analyse en réseau (MAR) est une méthode statistique permettant de comparer des traitements n’ayant pas été comparés dans des essais (ECR) face-face et de classer les...

Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare variant of leukemia with an aggressive clinical course and a poor prognosis. The cutaneous involvement in PCL is very rare either at clinical presentation of leukemia, namely “leukemia cutis”, or in the metastatic PCL to the skin. We present a case of eruptive multiple cutaneous nodules in a 56-year-old man with...

The term non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) refers to skin cancer different from melanoma, and it is usually restricted to basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and their pre-cancerous lesions, e.g., actinic keratosis. These conditions represent the most frequent tumors in Caucasians and are characterized by an increasing incidence...

The need to rapidly spread information about the risk of COVID-19 in patients with psoriasis (Pso) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) on biologics may have hampered the methodological rigor in published literature. We analysed the quality of papers dealing with the risk and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with Pso and PsA receiving biologic therapies....

Many health‐care systems have responded the COVID‐19 pandemic by delaying and/or cancelling elective surgical procedures, particularly during the lockdown.1‐3 There is a concern that this could have affected the early diagnosis of malignant melanoma (MM) that is critical to improve its prognosis.4,5 The objective of this observational study was to...

IntroductionThe use of telemedicine has significantly increased since the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In the dermatological setting, patients with stable plaque psoriasis on maintenance therapy with biological drugs may be suitable candidates for telemedicine, although their preference for telemedicine has not yet been investigated. The ai...

Background The contact allergy prevalences in patch tested patients are usually higher than those in the population, owing to morbidity-driven selection. Objectives To examine the differences between two samples, one from the population, one from the patch test clinic, in one area of Germany (Jena, Thuringia). Methods Between August 2008 and Octo...

Background Indirect excess morbidity has emerged as a major concern in the COVID-19 pandemic. People with psoriasis may be particularly vulnerable to this because of prevalent anxiety and depression, multimorbidity and therapeutic use of immunosuppression. Objective Characterise the factors associated with worsening psoriasis in the COVID-19 pandem...

Psoriasis has been linked with several comorbidities and increased all-cause mortality compared with the general population. Data are still limited concerning mortality especially from Southern European countries. Between January 2012 and December 2018, we conducted a retrospective cohort study on psoriasis patients and population controls in North...

IntroductionDistinct skin lesions associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been described, but data regarding their time of onset during the COVID-19 course are scant. Our objective was to systematically review the studies reporting the time of onset of selected skin lesions with respect to the reported onset of the COVID-19 core sy...

Background: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease for which some people have a genetic predisposition. The condition manifests in inflammatory effects on either the skin or joints, or both, and it has a major impact on quality of life. Although there is currently no cure for psoriasis, various treatment strategies allow sustained control of dise...