Psoriasis

Recurrent tonsillitis during ages 10 to 11 years was associated with pediatric psoriasis, according to a population-based analysis published in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Researchers found a statistically significant association between early ustekinumab levels and 6-month Psoriasis Area and Severity Index-75 response in patients taking the drug.

Approximately 125 million people worldwide, including more than 8 million Americans, have psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Between 10% and 30% of these patients will also develop psoriatic arthritis.

By the time Lilly Stairs was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis at the age of 19 — following an arduous series of tests and doctor visits — she had already been living with an autoimmune disease for 12 years.

Individuals with rosacea showed changes from that of healthy skin, indicating that more research is warranted to understand the pathophysiology of the disease, according to findings from a case-control study published in American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.

Relying primarily on patient global assessments falls short in determining comprehensive disease severity, but by adding the Skindex instrument or other measures, clinicians may obtain a better evaluation of patient quality of life, according to a panel of stakeholders on behalf of the International Dermatology Outcome Measures and the American Academy of Dermatology.

Patients with psoriasis prescribed biologic agents are less likely to develop psychiatric illnesses compared with patients not prescribed biologic agents, which researchers concluded is due to treatment selection bias.

Newly diagnosed patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Taiwan demonstrate increased risks for multiple immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including acute anterior uveitis, psoriasis, thromboangiitis obliterans, Behcet’s disease and sarcoidosis, according to findings published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

A significantly greater proportion of patients with psoriasis receiving guselkumab achieved a 90% reduction or more in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index at week 48 than those receiving secukinumab, according to researchers in The Lancet.

As half of all pregnancies go unplanned, patients and providers must understand the implications of therapeutic options in all women with psoriasis who are sexually active, whether or not they plan to start a family, according to researchers.