Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37153322›Full record

ArticleCureus2023

Apremilast Add-On Benefits Over Conventional Drugs (ABCD) in Unstable Non-segmental Vitiligo: A 12-Week Single-Center Randomized Controlled Trial.

Sakshi Sharma, Abhishek Bhardwaj, Pradeep Dwivedi, Suraj Singh Yadav, Muhammad Aaqib Shamim, Surjit Singh, Prem Prakash Sharma, Sneha Ambwani, Kuldeep SIngh

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.7field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. A systematic review of case series and clinical trials investigating systemic oral or injectable therapies for the treatment of vitiligo.Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI) · 2024
    Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. PDE4 Inhibitor-Responsive Dermatoses: An Emerging Concept in Dermatology.The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2025
    Review
  4. Emerging Therapeutic Innovations for Vitiligo Treatment.Current issues in molecular biology · 2025
    Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Vitiligo: Pathogenesis and New and Emerging Treatments.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Sakshi SharmaPharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, IND.
Abhishek BhardwajDermatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, IND.
Pradeep DwivediPharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, IND.
Suraj Singh YadavPediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, IND.
Muhammad Aaqib ShamimPharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, IND.
Surjit SinghPharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, IND.
Prem Prakash SharmaCommunity and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, IND.
Sneha AmbwaniPharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, IND.
Kuldeep SInghPediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, IND.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur · IN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background Apremilast is an oral phosphodiesterase-4 enzyme inhibitor that modulates the immune system by increasing intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels and inhibiting inflammatory cytokines synthesis. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of add-on apremilast in combination therapy with standard treatment in patients with unstable, non-segmental vitiligo. Methods The study was a 12-week randomized, controlled, parallel-group, open-labeled trial. The control group received standard treatment (n=15), and the intervention group received 30 mg apremilast twice daily in addition to standard treatment (n= 16). Time to the first sign of re-pigmentation, halt in progression, and change in vitiligo area scoring index (VASI) score is the primary outcomes. Normality was assessed, and appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests were undertaken. Results Thirty-seven participants were randomized into two groups, and analysis was done on thirty-one participants. Over the treatment duration of 12 weeks, the median time to observe the first sign of re-pigmentation was four weeks in the add-on apremilast group compared to seven weeks in the control group (p=0.018). The halt in progression was observed more in the add-on Apremilast group (93.75%) compared to the control group (66.66%) (p=0.08). The VASI score decreased by 1.24 in the add-on apremilast group and 0.05 in the control group (p= 0.754). Parameters including body surface area, dermatology life quality index, and body mass index reduced significantly, while the visual analog scale increased significantly in the add-on apremilast group. However, results were comparable between groups. Conclusions Treatment with add-on apremilast accelerated clinical improvement. It also reduced disease progression and improved the disease index among participants. However, add-on apremilast had a lower tolerability profile than the control group.

Indexed as

apremilastautoimmune diseasesbsadlqinon-segmental vitiligophosphodiesterase 4 inhibitorsunstable vitiligovasi

Identifiers

PMID37153322
PMCPMC10162885
OpenAlexW4362636542

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.