Good results seen with halobetasol propionate foam in adolescent plaque psoriasis

Treatment with halobetasol propionate foam improved plaque psoriasis in adolescent patients, according to a study presented at the South Beach Symposium Medical Dermatology Summit.

“While psoriasis is most commonly thought to be an adult disease, studies show that approximately 30% of cases begin in childhood, with a current incidence approximately 205 per 100,000 in the adolescent population,” Adelaide Hebert, MD, of the departments of dermatology and pediatrics at the UTHealth McGovern Medical School, and colleagues wrote. “There is consensus among clinicians that early treatment may help to prevent long-term psychosocial impact in adolescent patients. However, there is a general lack of clinical trial data and few approved medications in this age group, limiting treatment options.”

Long-terms side effects of corticosteroids, including adrenal suppression risk, are a concern for clinicians prescribing topical medications to adolescents. Halobetasol propionate (HBP) foam 0.05% has been approved for plaque psoriasis treatment in adults.

The study evaluated 24 patients, aged 12 to 17 years, who had stable plaque psoriasis on at least 10% of their body surface area (BSA) and an Investigator’s Global Assessment of at least 3 who used HBP foam twice daily on their psoriatic plaques for up to 2 weeks.

Six patients showed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression in laboratory results measuring post-cosyntropin stimulation test serum total cortisol levels at day 15, all of which had resolved by the end-of-study visit approximately 4 weeks later. Clinical features of adrenal suppression were not observed in any of the study’s participants, while three showed measurable HBP plasma trough levels.

A one grade or greater improvement in IGA was recorded in 95.5% of participants, with mean BSA decreasing by 6% by day 15.

“HBP foam was well tolerated with improvement in both IGA and BSA, and patients were compliant with the treatment regimen,” the authors wrote. “Systemic exposure to HBP was minimal and did not correlate to adrenal suppression, BSA treated, nor the amount of product used. Results of this study support the safety, tolerability and efficacy of HBP foam 0.05% in treating plaque psoriasis in adolescent patients. This data is currently under review by the FDA for consideration of an indication in patients 12 and older with plaque psoriasis.”