Psoriasis

There are two important reasons why physicians should consider the role of diet in triggering psoriasis flares, says a leading expert.

Diet can affect skin conditions including acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and rosacea. In a review that focuses on these four conditions, plus aging, Rajani Katta, M.D., and Mary Jo Kramer, B.S., writing in Skin Therapy Letter, highlight trigger foods that should be avoided.

Efficacy and safety outcomes of clinical trials involving biologic psoriasis drugs overstate these drugs' real-world utility, shows a JAMA Dermatology study.

The TNF alpha inhibitor certolizumab pegol has achieved the highest response rates seen in phase three trials of self-injectable biologics for psoriasis, shows a study published in JAAD. 

Publishing new research findings has its benefits, but how physicians use that information and their personal experience in clinical practice can prove to be more insightful. In this table on page 98 of Dermatology Times June issue, we feature insights from three physicians who participated in the rapid-fire Q&A “60 Tips in 60 Minutes” from this year's Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference.

UCB’s Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) was recommended for approval by the European Committee for Medicinal Products (CHMP) for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Physicians may want to reconsider goals for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. In this study, physicians describe utilizing treat-to-target with a patient-centered approach to care for symptom relief.

As the list of treatments for plaque psoriasis grows, so does the list of adverse events associated with biologic treatment. In this article, we summarize adverse events associated with common treatments for plaque psoriasis.

Brodalumab most cost-effective with high efficacy for plaque psoriasis, but IL-17 inhibitors as a whole outperform other biologics, study shows.  

Twice-monthly certolizumab for plaque psoriasis could prove to be an option for patients who struggle with twice-weekly dosing, a study shows.

Immune cell derivative itaconate may combat psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases, shows a study in Nature.

"Plaque psoriasis is increasingly recognized as a multisystemic disease whose most common comorbidities include psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, overweight/obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and depression. The presence of such comorbidities affects the therapeutic choices for clinicians," researchers write in Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.

Dermatologists play a significant role in screening for psoriasis comorbidities and asking about shortness of breath as a routine part of medical history-taking, shows a study published in BMJ.

A study that compares the safety, efficacy and drug survival of biologics to biosimilars, finds that switching to a biosimilar had no significant impact on drug survival or safe

While there are biologics and systemic agents designed to control the severe form of plaque psoriasis, few treatments work as well in moderate plaque psoriasis. Apremilast may be a game changer.

Physicians should be aware of the warning signs that a biologic agent could be to blame when patients experience subacute or rapidly progressive neurologic changes, researchers say.

Acute or irregular flushing may signal a more serious health condition, say researchers who list 14 questions physicians should ask patients complaining about unusual flushing.

A small study shows that ultrasound may be a viable diagnostic tool to determine whether patients have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, Italian researchers report.

A JAMA Dermatology study raises the possibility of adopting the NASH FibroSure test to detect hepatic fibrosis in psoriasis patients and minimize the number of liver biopsies.

Fear associated with perceived pain from injectable biologics has been shown to be successfully addressed by employing anchoring bias interventions, researchers report in JAMA Dermatology.

The Food and Drug Administration accepted a new drug application for IDP-118 lotion (halobetasol propionate and tazarotene, Ortho Dermatologics), for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis.

NEJM analysis proves what has been suspected for decades: Alcohol can be more deadly in the psoriasis population as compared to non-psoriasis patients.

Dermatologists need to be aware of margin of error and related issues that can affect the results of biosimilar clinical trials, a study shows.