In its second indication in the EU, ixekizumab has been approved by the European Commission to treat adults with active psoriatic arthritis…
Skin Exam Advised Before Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapy
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Using tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors for atypical dermatoses may unmask, or perhaps even worsen, cutaneous lymphoma, according to new research. “Our findings suggest that careful skin examination might be required in all patients prescribed anti-TNF-alpha agents, especially those with atypical presentations of benign skin conditions,” says Dr. Joan Guitart of…
Bimekizumab Improves Joint & Skin Symptoms in PsA Patients
Preliminary results from an ongoing study show that bimekizumab improves joint and skin symptoms in patients with psoriatic arthritis…
Psoriasis Tied to Higher Risk of Serious Liver Disease
(Reuters Health)—People with chronic inflammatory disorders, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), may have an increased risk of developing serious liver damage, a recent study suggests. These inflammatory disorders are often treated with methotrexate, a medication linked to an increased risk of liver disease. For the current study, researchers followed more than 1 million…
The Role of Macrophages in Inflammation & Fibrosis: Macrophages May Predict Progressive Skin Disease
MADRID—Research into pharmacodynamic biomarkers has shown that macrophages may have an important role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including systemic sclerosis, an expert said at the 2017 Annual European Congress on Rheumatology (EULAR). The findings were discussed in a session that also covered how an understanding of M1 macrophages’ role in fibrosis has evolved…
Molecular Differences Between Pediatric & Adult Psoriasis Plaques
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The pathology of pediatric psoriasis differs from that of adult psoriasis, a finding that has implications for treatment, researchers suggest. “Pediatric psoriasis often differs from adult psoriasis in presentation, triggers, natural history, and response to therapy, suggesting potential differences in the pathophysiology of the disease processes,” Dr. Kelly Cordoro of the University…
Pembrolizumab May Induce Sarcoid-Like Skin Reactions
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Eruptive keatoacanthomas and extensive panniculitus are among the dermatological conditions associated with the anticancer agent pembrolizumab, researchers say. Pembrolizumab, a humanized IgG4 PD-1 (programmed cell death-1) antagonist antibody, is an immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) approved in the U.S. for treating advanced melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma….
Dermatology Consults May Cut Hospital Stays, Readmissions
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Inpatient dermatology consultations were associated with shorter hospital stays and reduced readmissions in a U.S. medical center and may do the same elsewhere, researchers in Ohio suggest. “A few decades ago, patients with severe psoriasis, drug reactions, blistering diseases and even severe eczema would be admitted to the hospital under close dermatology…
What Rheumatologists Wish Their Colleagues Knew: Managing Skin Disease & Comorbidities
From treating rashes to uncovering a case of osteoarthritis, dermatologists and rheumatologists can work together in a variety of ways to improve patient care, says Joseph F. Merola, MD, MMSc…
European Group Offers Guidance on Managing Juvenile Dermatomyositis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—A European working group has formulated consensus-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) with the goal of producing a “standard of care” for patients with JDM throughout Europe. The group is part of a European initiative called SHARE [Single Hub and Access point for pediatric Rheumatology in Europe]…