October 30, 2019
IN THIS ISSUE / October 30, 2019
Potential treatment for chronic urticaria may offer complete control
DW Insights and Inquiries: Can chowing down improve pseudoxanthoma elasticum?
Do U.S. dermatology residents suffer from imposter syndrome?
Academy testimony prompts congressional support for prior auth bill
Potential treatment for chronic urticaria may offer complete control
According to a study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, ligelizumab (currently in phase 3 trials) may be a safe and effective treatment option for chronic spontaneous urticaria. Study authors randomly assigned 382 patients to receive a single 120-mg dose of ligelizumab (or doses of 24 mg, 72 mg, or 240 mg), omalizumab (300 mg), or placebo every four weeks for 20 weeks. A higher percentage of patients had complete control of symptoms of chronic spontaneous urticaria with the 72 mg or 240 mg of ligelizumab therapy than with omalizumab or placebo.
The researchers found that at week 12, the ligelizumab group — 30%, 51%, and 42% of patients treated with 24 mg, 72 mg, and 240 mg, respectively — had a complete hives response versus 26% of the patients in the omalizumab group and no patients in the placebo group. At week 12, 30%, 44%, and 40% of the patients treated with the varied doses of ligelizumab had complete control of symptoms compared to 26% of patients in the omalizumab group and no patients in the placebo group.
View the most recent joint guidelines for urticaria on aad.org.
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DW Insights and Inquiries: Can chowing down improve pseudoxanthoma elasticum?
Advances in medical technology: friend or foe?
Do U.S. dermatology residents suffer from imposter syndrome?
In a soon-to-be published JAAD study, authors examined the prevalence of imposter syndrome (IS) — a condition that causes persistent feelings of self-doubt and skepticism — among U.S. dermatology residents and determined whether there is a correlation with physician burnout.
Of the 121 dermatology residents surveyed, 89% (108) had IS with moderate to intense imposter tendencies. IS was more frequent in females compared to males (92% vs. 85%). Also, 56% of respondents had burnout in at least one of the medical personnel burnout scale categories. The study’s authors recommended strategies to address IS, such as professional mentorship and feedback that acknowledges efforts and accomplishments, to be developed to help residents deal with feelings of self-doubt.
Feeling stressed? Check out the Academy’s Derm360 resources to help physicians combat burnout, and read about sources of dermatologist burnout and strategies on how to cope in Dermatology World.
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Advice for addressing burnout from a practicing dermatologist
What’s the cost of physician burnout? – DW Weekly (June 2019)
Academy testimony prompts congressional support for prior auth bill
Several congressional members within the House Committee on Small Business recently shared their support for the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2019, which will help streamline the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans.
Last month, Academy member Howard Rogers, MD, PhD, testified on the burdens of prior authorization to the committee. Learn more about what the AADA is doing to reduce the burdens of prior authorizations.
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Syphilis and STDs on the rise for fifth year in a row
Despite data showing that young people are less sexually active than older generations at the same age, they’re still contracting more sexually transmitted diseases than any other group — and the rates of infection are accelerating, reports the The Wall Street Journal.
According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, in 2018, rates of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States increased for the fifth year in a row and combined cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia reached a record high with half the reported infections occurring in young adults ages 15 to 24. Among all age groups, rates of chlamydia increased 3% from 2017, gonorrhea increased by 5%, and syphilis by 14%. Among the most concerning findings from the CDC’s report is the rapid increase in prevalence of congenital syphilis, which increased 22% from 2017 to 2018.
With the resurgence of syphilis, what role do dermatologists play? Find out in Dermatology World.
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