New classes of psoriatic arthritis drugs in clinical trials show promise

New classes of psoriatic arthritis drugs in clinical trials show promise By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting approximately one to two percent of the population. While psoriasis causes red and scaly patches on the skin, PsA creates mild to severe pain and swelling of any joint. About 5 to 30 percent of patients with psoriasis eventually develop PsA, and 85 percent of people with PsA have psoriasis as a comorbidity. Because there is no cure, treatment is focused on symptom management.1,2,3 That is the high-level view. At the experiential [...]

Undertreated Psoriasis Patients Need Answers

Undertreated Psoriasis Patients Need Answers By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH A 2021 study concluded that psoriasis continues to be a common inflammatory disease, affecting more than 7.5 million adults in the US alone --  3.0% of the US adult population.1  By far the most common form (80% of cases)2 is plaque psoriasis, which intermittently creates patches of scaly and itchy skin, often on the scalp, knees, or elbows, but there are multiple distinct types with different presentations. The inflammation that creates psoriasis is also linked with an increased risk for other conditions, by a process that is [...]

For Psoriasis Awareness Month: The Psoriasis Support Community on Inspire Talks Treatments

For Psoriasis Awareness Month: The Psoriasis Support Community on Inspire Talks Treatments By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Try to list chronic illnesses that you think have a major effect on the person’s daily quality of life. You can probably think of several, but is psoriasis on the list? It ought to be. One Inspire member described his current symptoms in a post: Standing still in one place for five seconds feels like super pressure [around my] ankle and legs and hundreds of ants and burning. Sitting on a desk with step stool is little better in terms [...]