Psoriasis, vitiligo studies most-read dermatology articles of week

Research on Cosentyx therapy for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis was the most-read article of the past week on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Other widely read articles included research on vitiligo, including children with early-onset vitiligo and the use of Xeljanz as treatment for a patient with the disease:

Cosentyx provides greater skin clearance vs. Stelara in patients with psoriasis

Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis experienced greater skin clearance when treated with Cosentyx vs. Stelara, with comparable safety results, according to recently published study results.

Researchers conducted a 52-week, double-blind study of 676 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Patients were randomly assigned to subcutaneous injection of Cosentyx (secukinumab, Novartis) 300 mg or Stelara (ustekinumab, Janssen) per label dosage. Read more

Children with early-onset vitiligo more likely to have extensive, progressive disease

Children who were diagnosed with vitiligo before 3 years of age were more likely to have progressive and extensive disease compared with those who developed later-onset childhood vitiligo, according to recently published study results.

Researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of 208 children evaluated for vitiligo between Jan. 1, 1990, and Nov. 15, 2014. Read more

Xeljanz might be effective as vitiligo treatment

Xeljanz was effective as treatment in a patient with vitiligo, according to recently published study results.

“This report is the first to demonstrate effective, pathogenesis-based therapy for a patient with vitiligo,” the researchers concluded. “The fairly rapid response and repigmentation of the hands, which are often resistant to therapy are noteworthy.” Read more

Confetti-like depigmentation may signal rapidly progressing vitiligo

Confetti-like depigmentation could be a marker of rapidly progressing vitiligo, according to study results.

“[Confetti-like lesions] may also be a sign of inflammatory vitiligo,” the researchers wrote. “If these findings are confirmed in larger cohorts and other centers, consideration should be given to aggressive treatment of patients with confetti-like lesions to prevent rapid and potentially permanent loss of pigmentation.” Read more