Authors of a Brief Report in JAAD investigated potential associations between telogen effluvium (TE) and GLP-1 treatment for weight loss. Patients with a BMI of ≥30 without diabetes were included in the analysis.
[Dermatologists weigh in on cutaneous side effects of GLP-1 agonists. Read more.]
In subgroup analyses, GLP-1-treated patients maintained an increased risk of TE versus other weight loss medication recipients with no difference versus bariatric surgery recipients. Another subanalysis showed that tirzepatide had increased TE versus all controls and other weight loss medication, but not bariatric surgery, which the authors speculated may be due to the drug’s superior weight loss efficacy. There were no differences in TE risk for semaglutide or liraglutide.
The authors concluded that GLP-1 treatment was associated with increased TE risk versus other weight loss interventions despite a lower event rate, suggesting an earlier onset in GLP-1-treated patients.
The AAD Media Relations team referred Anthony Rossi, MD, FAAD, to speak with CNN about hair loss while on GLP-1s. Read the article.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Pityriasis rosea and pityriasis rosea-like eruptions — A Christmas tale
Santa Claus waving from his sleigh on Central Park West on Black Friday traditionally commenced the Christmas holiday season. That “official” start now occurs after the last trick-or-treater devours their Hershey bar on Halloween. Realistically, it is always Christmastime — turn on the Hallmark channel in July. Pityriasis rosea (PR), with its famed “Christmas tree” distribution, has its peak season in the late spring and autumn, but pityriasis rosea-like eruptions (PRLE) appear year-round. Based on clinical, histologic, and laboratory criteria, PR may reliably be differentiated from PRLE caused by drugs, herbs, infections, or vaccinations. Keep reading!
Combination oral minoxidil and baricitinib for alopecia areata
Authors of a Brief Report in JAAD investigated the efficacy of combination oral minoxidil and baricitinib on hair regrowth in patients with alopecia areata (AA). Patients were divided into three groups: baseline SALT score 21-49, 50-94, and 95-100. Responders were defined as achieving SALT score ≤20 for patients with baseline SALT score 50-100 or SALT score ≤10 for patients with baseline SALT score 21-49.
[Comparing efficacy of JAK inhibitors used in alopecia areata. Read more.]
The single patient with baseline SALT score 21-49 achieved SALT score ≤20. For patients with baseline SALT score 50-94, 80% achieved SALT score ≤20. For patients with baseline SALT score 95-100, 50% achieved SALT score ≤20. Nearly all patients who achieved SALT score ≤20 achieved SALT score ≤10. The median time to response ranged between 13-56 weeks. The authors suggested that the efficacy of combination oral minoxidil and JAK inhibitors is greater than JAK inhibitor monotherapy.
Is there an association between JAKis and malignancy risk in alopecia areata? Read more.
OIG report supports dermatologists’ use of modifier 25, CMS requires no further regulations
A recent report by the Office of the Inspector General found that dermatologists are appropriately using modifier 25 the vast majority of the time. CMS concluded that dermatologists are complying with modifier 25 coding rules and the agency will not impose any additional regulations in this area. Read more.
FDA sends warning letter to DermaRite Industries, LLC
The FDA sent a warning letter to DermaRite Industries, LLC, an over-the-counter topical drug and wound care product manufacturer, regarding violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations.
The FDA found that the manufacturer failed to adequately investigate several test results for its products, raising concerns that its products may not meet safety or quality standards. As a result, the agency has ordered the manufacturer to correct the violations or risk the FDA withholding export certificates or delaying approval of any new drug applications from the manufacturer until it can meet CGMP requirements.
Understanding your MIPS cost reports
MIPS cost measures significantly influence your overall MIPS score — and ultimately your Medicare payment adjustments. Because of this, it’s critical for dermatologists to understand their cost feedback reports and ensure the information is accurate and meaningful. Many physicians have shared that these reports can be difficult to interpret or lack the detail needed to understand how scores are calculated. The AADA is working with the AMA and specialty societies to identify where these reports fall short and advocate for clearer, more transparent cost feedback.
Go to “Performance Feedback” to view your MIPS summary and cost measure details.
Download your Performance Feedback Report and any available supplemental or patient-level cost data.
Need help understanding your report? If your cost report seems unclear or difficult to interpret, please reach out to us at regulatory@aad.org. Your experiences help guide our advocacy efforts and ensure dermatologists’ challenges with MIPS cost measures are accurately represented.
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