Factors that may predict chronic spontaneous urticaria recurrence
In a retrospective chart review published in the Journal of Dermatology, authors compared lab values and comorbidities for patients who achieved clearance of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) for at least six to 12 months followed by recurrence of their CSU with those of the general population of CSU patients. CSU lasted less than one year in 13% of patients, between one and five years in 61% of patients, and longer than five years in 26% of patients. Of the 119 patients who experienced resolution of their initial CSU episode during follow-up, 21% had recurrence on average three years after remission.
The prevalence of recurrence was significantly higher if the first CSU episode lasted longer than three years. Other factors occurring more often in the recurrence group than the general group included bronchial asthma (40% vs. 25%), increased levels of total IgE (40% vs. 23%), and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (44% vs. 20%).
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Propranolol and neutrophilic dermatoses — Can beta-blockade be better blockade?
Ask any dermatology resident what the first-line treatment is for infantile hemangiomas (IH) and you will get a matter-of-fact response — “propranolol” — as if this has been an entrenched fact for decades. Barely more than a dozen years removed from its serendipitous discovery in shrinking IHs, it is easy to forget how revolutionary this observation was. Up to that point, I thought that propranolol’s most significant use in dermatology was in treating stage fright for petrified dermatologists about to deliver a live lecture — as personally confirmed by my co-chief resident 40 years ago! Keep reading!
The American Academy of Dermatology is requesting feedback from members about its focused guideline update for the management of actinic keratosis. AAD members are encouraged to provide comments on the draft guideline before the comment period closes end of day Dec. 14. View the draft guideline and share your comments.
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.
In a recently published JAADarticle-in-press, authors provide an annual report on how the Academy’s clinical data registry platform DataDerm™ has progressed. DataDerm is currently the largest clinical registry of dermatologic patients in the world and serves as a valuable resource for quality, research, and advocacy.
As of Dec. 31, 2020, the platform contained data from 11.3 million patients and 40 million unique patient visits, with 782 practices representing 2,290 clinicians actively participating in DataDerm. Based on the number of demographically diverse patients with a variety of insurance carriers and sources of payment represented in the registry, the specialty is now able to see how different patient populations can access dermatologic care throughout the country.
While the pandemic and subsequent MIPS extreme and uncontrollable circumstances exemptions contributed to fewer members reporting, scoring for all users increased from the 2019 to 2020 reporting year. Among AAD members submitting MIPS measure through the platform, the average total MIPS score increased by 18.4% from an average of 62.89 in 2019 to 74.45 in 2020. In the future, plans are underway to continue to diversify the patient population captured by the registry by engaging more academic medical centers.
In October, the FDA announced important changes to the iPLEDGE Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program for health care providers, patients, and pharmacies. Patient risk categories were reduced from three options to two: patients who can get pregnant, and patients who cannot get pregnant. These changes will take effect Dec. 13, 2021.
Health care providers must assign and confirm their currently enrolled patients’ risk category for each patient upon their first login into the iPLEDGE REMS website on or after Dec. 13, 2021. Prior to this modification, the iPLEDGE website and iPLEDGE REMS Contact Center phone service will undergo maintenance starting Friday, Dec. 10, at 11:59 p.m. ET until Sunday, Dec. 12, at 11:59 p.m. ET. During this time, iPLEDGE will be unavailable. Prescribers should ensure that any patient whose iPLEDGE authorization expires Dec. 11-12, 2021, is instructed to obtain their prescription before 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 10, 2021.
While the upcoming changes to the iPLEDGE program are still in effect, the AADA is working tirelessly to protect patients' access to isotretinoin.
The American Academy of Dermatology is a non-profit professional organization and does not endorse companies or products. Advertising helps support our mission.
