Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42405325›Full record

ReviewClinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology2026

Repurposing Old Drugs: Roflumilast as a Promising Therapeutic Option for Plaque Psoriasis.

Shan Li, Naichao Wu, Xingren Liu, Wei Jiang

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors.

Shan LiDepartment of Dermatology, The 78th Group Army Hospital of the Chinese PLA, Mudanjiang, People's Republic of China.
Naichao WuDepartment of Dermatology, The 78th Group Army Hospital of the Chinese PLA, Mudanjiang, People's Republic of China.
Xingren LiuDepartment of Dermatology, The 78th Group Army Hospital of the Chinese PLA, Mudanjiang, People's Republic of China.
Wei JiangDepartment of Dermatology, The 78th Group Army Hospital of the Chinese PLA, Mudanjiang, People's Republic of China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Pathogenic studies have revealed that phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) plays a key role in psoriasis inflammation. This narrative review evaluates roflumilast, a potent PDE4 inhibitor available in oral and topical formulations, as a repurposed therapeutic for plaque psoriasis. Objective: To synthesize the mechanism of action, efficacy, safety, and clinical application of roflumilast, highlighting recent evidence and its position relative to existing therapies. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to early 2026 using keywords including "roflumilast", "PDE4 inhibitor", and "plaque psoriasis". Results: Both oral and topical formulations achieve clinically meaningful improvements in PASI and IGA scores with favorable tolerability. Conclusion: Roflumilast represents a convenient, cost-effective, and practical option, especially for sensitive sites and comorbid patients, although larger head-to-head trials against biologics are still needed.

Indexed as

PDE4 inhibitorplaque psoriasisroflumilast

Identifiers

PMID42405325
PMCPMC13332753

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.