Dermatology

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Apogee Hopes Raised by Phase 2 Data for APG777 to be a Best-In-Class for Atopic Dermatitis

July 7th 2025

The investigational IL-13 inhibitor showed topline EASI-75 of 66.9% and reduced injection frequency in part A of the APEX phase 2 clinical trial.

Mental Health Burden in Atopic Dermatitis: Study Identifies Key Risk Factors for Anxiety and Depression / image credit ©martialred/stock.adobe.com
Mental Health Burden in Atopic Dermatitis: Study Identifies Key Risk Factors for Anxiety and Depression

July 2nd 2025

Roflumilast Cream 0.15% Receives Strong Recommendation for Atopic Dermatitis in AAD Guideline Update / image credit ©Arcutis Biotherapeutics
Roflumilast Cream 0.15% Receives Strong Recommendation for Atopic Dermatitis in AAD Guideline Update

June 26th 2025

Investigational Respegaldesleukin Drives Early EASI Improvement and Symptom Relief in Adults with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis
Investigational Rezpegaldesleukin Drives Early EASI Improvement and Symptom Relief in Adults with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis

June 25th 2025

FDA Approves Dupilumab for Treatment of Bullous Pemphigoid in Adults
FDA Approves Dupilumab for Treatment of Bullous Pemphigoid in Adults

June 20th 2025

Latest CME Events & Activities

Cases and Conversations™: Biologic Matchmaking in Psoriasis – Finding the Right Therapy for the Right Patient

July 26, 2025

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Advances in™ Atopic Dermatitis: Addressing Unmet Needs in Patients With Skin of Color

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Clinical Consultations™: Guiding Patients with Genital Psoriasis Toward Relief Through a Multidisciplinary Approach

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Patient, Provider & Caregiver Connection™: Understanding the Patient Journey to Provide Personalized Care for Generalized Pustular Psoriasis

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Cases and Conversations™: Applying Practice Techniques to Optimize Diagnosis and Treatment Strategies in Generalized Pustular Psoriasis

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Cases and Conversations™: Applying Best Practices to Prevent Shingles in Your Practice

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‘REEL’ Time Patient Counseling™: Fostering Effective Conversations in Practice to Create a Visible Impact for Patients Living with Genital Psoriasis

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Dermalorian™ Webinar: Shedding Light on Patient-Reported Outcomes to Assess Disease Severity in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

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Where Do Biologics Fit Into the Management of Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis?

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22nd Annual International Symposium on Melanoma and Other Cutaneous Malignancies®

February 21, 2026

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Community Practice Connections™: Contextualizing Novel Immunotherapy for Advanced Melanoma – How Do TIL Therapies Fit into Practice?

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Virtual Testing Board: Digging Deeper on Your Testing Reports to Elevate Patient Outcomes in Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

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Expert Illustrations & Commentaries™: Exploring Novel Therapeutic Targets in Acne Management

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Burst CME: Targeted Therapy for Optimal Psoriasis Management

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Community Practice Connections™: Empowering Interventional Radiologists in the Emerging Era of Oncolytic Immunotherapies for Melanoma

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Clinical Consultations™: Providing Holistic Care for Complex Cases of Psoriasis with Cardiovascular Comorbidities

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Understanding Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis (AD)

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Close Reading Sheds New Light on a Puzzling Rash

December 31st 2006

In Dr Sean Eric Koon's Case In Point, "Puzzling Rash in an Older Woman"(CONSULTANT, April 15, 2003, page 629), I agree with his conclusion that thispatient had cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis (CLV) (Figure). I also agreethat she met the American College of Rheumatology's 1990 criteria for a diagnosisof hypersensitivity vasculitis.1 However, given the patient's history and laboratoryresults, I believe further evaluation was warranted to determine whether the medication was indeed to blame for her CLV or whether an underlying systemicdisease was responsible.Her white blood cell (WBC) count was 72,000/?L. CLV is known to producea mild leukocytosis--presumably caused by the inflammatory response of the vasculitis.Thus, one would expect to see only a slight elevation in the WBC count.Also, if the elevation had been produced by the inflammatory response of the CLV,the patient's erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) would have been significantlyelevated. However, her ESR was 12 mm/h, which is essentially normal in awoman this age.The discovery of a value that is not consistent with the disease process makesme question Dr Koon's final diagnosis--or at least want to add to his differentiala disease that could be responsible for both the CLV and the level of leukocytosisseen here: hairy cell leukemia.Other facts in the case that tend not to support the conclusion that the patient'sCLV resulted from a drug reaction include the following:One would expect to see systemic symptoms, such as fever, malaise, anorexia,and/or myalgias if a drug reaction caused the CLV; this woman reportedly didnot experience any of these.Rashes associated with CLV produced by a drug reaction are generally describedby patients as pruritic, painful (sometimes significantly so), and/or associatedwith paresthesias, such as a burning or stinging sensation; this patient's rash isdescribed as "painless and nonpruritic."Thus, although an exogenous agent such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole(TMP-SMX) can cause CLV, it would have been prudent in view of the findingsin this case to search for an endogenous cause, such as an underlying systemicdisease or malignancy.----Pamela Moyers Scott, MPAS, PA-CWilliamsburg, WVaThank you for your comments. You detected a typo; this patient's leukocytecount was actually 7200/?L. A value of 72,000/?L would indeedbe of concern and would prompt a new differential diagnosis. HerWBC count when last checked was 7300/?L.Ultimately, my determination was that the patient's rash was mostlikely triggered by a viral infection and not by the TMP-SMX. I felt that anotherhealth care provider had inappropriately treated her upper respiratory tractinfection with an antibiotic, so I stopped the medication. Because I could notcompletely rule out the antibiotic as a cause of this potentially serious condition,I recommended that she avoid it in the future. This is yet another exampleof how the treatment of colds with antibiotics can confuse the clinical pictureand possibly harm the patient.--Sean Eric Koon, MD  &nbspFontana, Calif


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Role of Anti–SS-A and Anti–SS-B Tests in Sjögren Diagnosis

December 31st 2006

I enjoyed the article by Kenneth H. Fye, MD, "Rheumatic Disease: How to Use theLab in the Workup" (CONSULTANT, March 2004, page 369). However, I foundthe following statement to be misleading: "Anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B determinationsare necessary to rule out Sjgren syndrome in patients with sicca complaints."If the results of these tests are negative, but Sjgren syndrome was initiallysuspected based on the history, labial biopsy is required. Many persons with thisdisease have negative antibody test results.Unfortunately, it often takes years before Sjgren syndrome is correctly diagnosedin most patients. This is usually because a health care provider rules it outbased on negative results of anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B tests.---- Paula Hochberg, ARNPSarasota, FlaYou are correct that negative results of tests foranti-SS-A and anti-SS-B antibodies do not ruleout Sjgren syndrome. Although the majorityof patients with this syndrome have these antibodies,a significant minority do not. If, in thislatter group of patients, Sjgren syndrome is strongly suspectedon clinical grounds, a minor salivary gland biopsyshould be considered. Biopsy is the most specific andsensitive test for Sjgren syndrome. Although a biopsy isnot required to make the diagnosis in every patient, thereare clearly those with negative tests for anti-SS-A andanti-SS-B in whom a biopsy is necessary to confirm suspectedSjgren syndrome. Thus, my statement shouldhave read instead, "Positive anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B determinationssupport a diagnosis of Sjgren syndrome inpatients with sicca complaints."---- Kenneth H. Fye, MDClinical Professor of MedicineRheumatology DivisionUniversity of California, San Francisco,School of Medicine

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