Outcomes of various types of therapy in patients with treatment-resistant acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau

Introduction

Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau (ACH) was first described by Henri Hallopeau in 1890. Currently, this disease is classified as a rare form of palmoplantar pustular psoriasis (PPP).¹ ACH is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis which is characterized by sterile pustules on the distal phalanges of the fingers and toes. Continuous inflammation results in severe finger and toe damage, onychodystrophy, and sometimes anonychia and osteolysis.² Cases of transformation of ACH into generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) have been observed. Usually ACH manifests at 1–2 fingers or toes. Most commonly it is observed in women after palmar or foot injuries or infections.³

Histological findings in ACH include formation of neutrophilic pustules, degenerative changes in epidermal cells, and moderate lymphohistiocytic infiltration.²

Typically, ACH demonstrates low or no stable response to SOC treatments. Multiple therapies include methotrexate, systemic retinoids, cyclosporin A, biologics (adalimumab, infliximab), and others; however, none of the current treatments results into the longer term disease control.^4–6 Here our experience of ACH treatment is presented.

Case

A 53-year-old female patient was observed for ACH at the Clinic of Dermal and Venereal Diseases, Sechenov University (Moscow). ACH manifested in 2014 after stress. Physical examination revealed pustular rash primarily on the distal phalanges of the fingers and toes: marked infiltration was associated with pustules, areas of hyperkeratosis, and fissures were detected. Severe dystrophy affected the nail plates; the nails were thickened, yellow, and brittle; onycholysis was observed. No pathogenic fungi detected. Diagnostic biopsy of a nail fold followed by histological examination revealed numerous neutrophils in the keratinized layer of the epidermis, epidermal hyperplasia, and hyperkeratosis typical of ACH. A course of local PUVA therapy (with Ammifurin as a photosensitizer) was started in 2015; no improvement was observed after 20 sessions with a cumulative dose of 60 J (Figure 1). In subsequent years, the patient was treated with methotrexate, systemic retinoids, and infliximab. Please see Table 1 for details.

Figure 1 Patient with acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau: condition on admission.

Table 1 Use of various types of therapy in a 53-year-old female patient with acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau

Following previous treatment failures, apremilast therapy was initiated in 2017. The dose was escalated from 10 mg/day to 30 mg twice daily (Table 2). Adverse events observed during the first 3 weeks after startup of the therapy included severe diarrhea and nausea; these events were subsequently resolved. The pustules had regressed and the infiltration improved by the end of the second month of therapy; however, no re-growth of healthy nail plates occurred. Thus, methotrexate 25 mg/week was added. However, no further improvement was observed on apremilast/MTX combination (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Patient’s condition after the apremilast course.

Table 2 Apremilast dosing regimen

So, given the questionable result of the standard therapy, the course of secukinumab was started, as per existing data, secukinumab showed some clinical benefits in generalized pustular psoriasis (referral). So, it was decided to include it in the treatment plan of the current case.

Secukinumab was dosed as per approved regimen: 300 mg per week by subcutaneous injections (weeks 0, 1, 2, 3), followed by 300 mg once monthly. Concomitant active infections, including tuberculosis, were ruled out prior to the start of treatment. Up to date, six injections were applied, and the treatment is ongoing. A marked early improvement (regression of pustular rash elements and decrease of inflammation) was observed after the third administration. After the fourth injection, re-growth of healthy nail plates was detected (see Figure 3).

Figure 3 Patient’s condition after six secukinumab injections.

Discussion

ACH is a difficult to treat disease refractory to the majority of SOC psoriasis therapies. The nail plates involvement makes it especially difficult to achieve a clinical improvement. In most cases, standard treatment with local PUVA therapy, systemic retinoids, and methotrexate, results in partial regression of skin symptoms but has no effect on the manifestations and natural course of onychodystrophy.

Apremilast therapy may be applied, as there is a considerable body of evidence of its efficacy along with a reasonable safety profile. As intracellular phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitor, apremilast modulates pro-inflammatory pathways. PDE-4 inhibition results in increased cAMP production and drives down expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-alpha, IL-23, and IL-17. In our case, apremilast resulted in partial response, as pustular rash regressed, infiltration and hyperkeratosis decreased. However, severe nail plate dystrophy persisted.

According to the latest data, IL-17 suppression provided by secukinumab is effective in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis^1,6–8 and demonstrated notable anti-inflammatory effects. Secukinumab is a fully human IgG1 which targets and inhibits IL-17A. IL-17 was shown to have an essential role in the pro-inflammatory processes in psoriasis: it directly affects keratinocytes causing their hyperplasia, acanthosis, and hyperkeratosis. It leads to accumulation of neutrophils and T-lymphocytes in the epidermis and further escalation of chronic inflammation.^6,7

Conclusion

IL-17 mRNA levels have been shown to be significantly elevated in generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP).⁹ In view of the common histological changes and pathogenesis of GPP and ACH, secukinumab has a potential to become the treatment of choice and potential standard of care in ACH. The further investigation of IL-17 role in ACH will be needed to determine the longer term clinical effects and future place of secukinumab and other IL-17 inhibitors in the treatment pattern of refractory dermatosis.