April 24
IN THIS ISSUE / April 24, 2019
- Dermal filler may effectively treat facial acne scarring
- DW Insights and Inquiries: Fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy may be wearing more than one DRESS
- AAD Board of Directors shed light on the strategic plan’s impact on members
- Feedback requested: Draft psoriasis guidelines for pediatric patients
- Deadline to review QPP performance data April 27
- 2020 committee appointment application now open
Dermal filler may effectively treat facial acne scarring
The injectable dermal filler polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) may be an effective treatment option for full-face acne scarring, according to study findings published in Dermatologic Surgery. Study participants with acne scars were treated with PMMA-injectable filler, and efficacy was assessed using a validated 5-point static Acne Scar Assessment Scale (ASAS), physician and participant Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), and participant Quality of Life Scar Impact Scale.
At four and seven months, approximately 92% and 95% of participants, respectively, experienced at least a one-point improvement on the ASAS. At four months, 95% of participants reported improvements on the GAIS, and 90% reported improvement on the GAIS at seven months. According to the physician-assessed GAIS, 92% of patients had a score classification of “improved or better” at four months. At seven months, 97% of patients had been classified as “improved or better.”
Learn more about the changing world of dermal fillers in Dermatology World.
Related Content:
- Examining the theory behind the use of platelet rich plasma for dermatologic procedures – Dermatology World (May 2018)
- Scarred by dogma: Revising recommendations for surgery and isotretinoin use – DW Insights and Inquiries (August 2017)
- The many uses of microneedling – Dermatology World (September 2018)
- AAD product: 2019 Annual Meeting On-Demand Recordings
DW Insights and Inquiries: Fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy may be wearing more than one DRESS
As a dermatology resident, I was mesmerized by the concept of “angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia” (AILD) after seeing a patient presented at our weekly conference at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. I was perplexed as to how such a disorder could be considered “benign” when so many patients had a prognosis that one would attribute to a malignant lymphoproliferative process.
The following is the initial abstract describing AILD by Frizzera et al:
A series of 15 patients with a distinct clinicopathologic profile is presented as constituting a new disease entity entitled “angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinaemia.” These patients are chiefly elderly, and develop an acute onset of constitutional symptoms, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and immunologic abnormalities. Histologically, the distinctive finding is obliteration of the nodal structures due to excessive proliferation of small vessels and immunoblasts. There is similar proliferation in other organs, but no evidence of a neoplastic process occurring. A polyclonal increase is gamma globulins occurs in most patients. In one patient there was a monoclonal IgG spike. Both clinically and histopathologically the disease is similar to a graft-versus-host reaction. The clinical course is stormy and responds in some cases to immunosuppressive drugs. Five patients were still living after 15 months of therapy. Severe infections are common and produce fatalities. Keep reading!
AAD Board of Directors shed light on the strategic plan’s impact on members
Feedback requested: Draft psoriasis guidelines for pediatric patients
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is requesting feedback from AAD members about its "Joint AAD-NPF guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis in pediatric patients." AAD members are encouraged to provide comments on the draft guidelines before the comment period closes May 3.
Guidelines serve as decision-making and educational aids for clinical practice to support and improve quality dermatologic care, and are used as the framework for quality measurement, reimbursement decisions, advocacy efforts, public messaging, and the identification of research gaps. When finalized, these evidence-based guidelines will be submitted for publication in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and will be considered current for five years from the date of publication.
Deadline to review QPP performance data April 27
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is getting ready to publish physicians’ Quality Payment Program (QPP) performance information for public viewing. Physicians have until April 27 to review their 2017 data before it is published on Physician Compare. Physicians can review their data by logging into the QPP website.
Related Content:
- Get ready for MIPS in 2019 – Dermatology World (February 2019)
- Big data, big changes: How the age of information is changing patient care, physician payment, and much more – Dermatology World (February 2016)
- AADA Practice Management Center: DataDerm™
2020 committee appointment application now open
Every year, hundreds of dermatologists serve the Academy through its organizational governance structure and through other service opportunities. The Appointment Selection Committee, chaired by Bruce H. Thiers, MD, has begun accepting applications to fill 2020 open appointments. Applications must be submitted by June 30, 2019. Members who are selected to serve will be contacted in the winter. Letters of recommendation are highly suggested but not required.
Learn more about the specific committees and task forces, committee member responsibilities, and other opportunities in the Governance Handbook.
