Psoriasis or not? Review of 51 clinically confirmed cases reveals an expanded histopathologic spectrum of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is usually diagnosed clinically, so only non-classic or refractory cases tend to be biopsied. Diagnostic uncertainty persists when dermatopathologists encounter features regarded as non-classic for psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: Define and document classic and non-classic histologic features in skin biopsies from patients with clinically confirmed psoriasis. METHODS: Minimal clinical diagnostic criteria were informally validated and applied to a consecutive series of biopsies histologically consistent with psoriasis. Clinical confirmation required 2 of the following criteria: (1) classic morphology, (2) classic distribution, (3) nail pitting, and (4) family history, with #1 and/or #2 as 1 criterion in every case RESULTS: Fifty-one biopsies from 46 patients were examined. Classic features of psoriasis included hypogranulosis (96%), club-shaped rete ridges (96%), dermal papilla capillary ectasia (90%), Munro microabscess (78%), suprapapillary plate thinning (63%), spongiform pustules (53%), and regular acanthosis (14%). Non-classic features included irregular acanthosis (84%), junctional vacuolar alteration (76%), spongiosis (76%), dermal neutrophils (69%), necrotic keratinocytes (67%), hypergranulosis (65%), neutrophilic spongiosis (61%), dermal eosinophils (49%), compact orthokeratosis (37%), papillary dermal fibrosis (35%), lichenoid infiltrate (25%), plasma cells (16%), and eosinophilic spongiosis (8%). CONCLUSIONS: Psoriasis exhibits a broader histopathologic spectrum. The presence of some non-classic features does not necessarily exclude the possibility of psoriasis.

Psoriasis and wound healing outcomes: A retrospective cohort study examining wound complications and antibiotic use.

Little is known about wound healing in psoriasis. We performed a cohort study examining differences in wound healing complications between patients with and without psoriasis. Psoriasis patients with traumatic wounds were matched 1:3 to non-psoriasis patients with traumatic wounds based on age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). We examined theincidence of wound complications including infection, necrosis, and hematoma as well as incident antibiotic use within three months following diagnosis of a traumatic wound. The study included 164 patients with traumatic wounds, comprised of 41 patients with psoriasis matched to 123 patients without psoriasis. No statistically significant differences were detected in the incidence of overall wound complications between wound patients with psoriasis and wound patients without psoriasis (14.6% versus. 13.0%, HR 1.18, CI 0.39-3.56). After adjustment for diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and smoking, no statistically significant differences were detected in the incidence of overall wound complications between patients with and without psoriasis (HR 1.11, CI 0.34-3.58). Specifically, the adjusted rates of antibiotic use were not significantly different between those with and without psoriasis (HR 0.65, CI 0.29-1.46). The incidence of wound complications following traumatic wounds of the skin was found to be similar between patients with and without psoriasis.

360-degree Evaluations on Physician Performance as an Effective Tool for Interprofessional Teams: A critical analysis of physician self-assessment as compared to nursing staff and patient evaluations of providers.

ImportanceThe dynamics of the medical care team, including interactions between physicians and nursing staff, has a large role to play in patient care, patient satisfaction, and future possible reimbursement determination. In order to implement changes to improve this dynamic within the medical team, it is imperative that appropriate assessments are completed to determine baseline satisfaction of our patients and nursing staff in addition to provider self-assessment.ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate patient and nursing staff satisfaction with regards to provider quality of care in an outpatient academic dermatology clinic setting. We also sought out to determine provider insight in regards to satisfaction of patient and nursing staff.MethodsOur nursing staff, patients, and providers completed a questionnaire. We then compared nursing satisfaction data and patient satisfaction data with provider self-assessment to determine provider self-awareness.ResultsA total of 23 provider and nurse surveys and 562 patient satisfaction surveys were completed. Paired comparison and descriptive statistics were utilized to compare patient satisfaction, nursing satisfaction, and provider self-assessments.ConclusionsOverall, the results of the surveys demonstrated that the nursing staff and patients had high satisfaction in their interactions with the dermatology physicians. The physicians had appropriate insight into how they were perceived by the nursing staff and patients. Attending physicians as compared to resident physicians and male physicians as compared to female physicians tended to underrate themselves.

Mercury toxicity presenting as acrodynia and a papulovesicular eruption in a 5-year-old girl.

Acrodynia is a reaction that occurs in children who have been exposed to mercury. Mercury toxicity has systemic manifestations as well as cutaneous manifestations, which can appear similar to those found in a number of other diseases. We present a case of acrodynia caused by mercury exposure in a previously healthy 5-year-old girl who developed hypertension, palmoplantar pruritus, and a papulovesicular eruption.

Are patients with psoriasis being screened for cardiovascular risk factors? A study of screening practices and awareness among primary care physicians and cardiologists.

INTRODUCTION: Increasing literature suggests that patients with psoriasis who have severe disease appear to have increased frequency of cardiovascular (CV) diseases. The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends screening for CV risk factors as early as 20 years of age. The extent to which these screening guidelines are implemented in practice is unclear. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess CV risk factor screening practices in patients with psoriasis and to assess primary care physician (PCP) and cardiologist awareness of worse CV outcomes in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: We distributed 1200 questionnaires to PCPs and cardiologists between October 1, 2010, and April 15, 2011. A representative national sample of physicians was obtained by random selection from professional medical societies. RESULTS: A total of 251 PCPs and cardiologists responded to the questionnaire. Among these physicians, 108 (43%) screened for hypertension, 27 (11%) screened for dyslipidemia, 75 (30%) screened for obesity, and 67 (27%) screened for diabetes. Physicians who cared for a greater number of patients with psoriasis were significantly more likely to screen for CV risk factors (hypertension P = .0041, dyslipidemia P = .0143, and diabetes P = .0065). Compared with PCPs, cardiologists were 3.5 times more likely to screen for dyslipidemia (95% confidence interval 1.32-9.29, P = .012). A total of 113 (45%) physicians were aware that psoriasis was associated with worse CV outcomes. LIMITATIONS: The questionnaire response rate was modest. CONCLUSIONS: Most PCPs and cardiologists did not routinely screen patients with psoriasis for CV risk factors. Educating physicians regarding potentially increased CV risk in psoriasis and adopting a multidisciplinary approach in the care of patients with psoriasis will likely lead to improved patient outcomes.

Patient-centered online management of psoriasis: a randomized controlled equivalency trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests that technology-enabled health care delivery may improve access to dermatologic specialty care. Outcomes research using validated outcomes measures is necessary for evaluation of novel health care delivery models. OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the clinical equivalence of a novel patient-centered online health care delivery model with standard in-office care for follow-up treatment of patients with psoriasis. METHODS: A total of 64 participants with psoriasis were randomized to receive follow-up care either in-office or online over a 24-week period. Patients randomized to the online group underwent standardized training on capturing high-quality digital images of their psoriatic skin and transmitting these images and clinical history to a dermatologist securely. The dermatologist then performed asynchronous, online evaluation and provided recommendations directly to patients. We used clinically validated disease severity and quality-of-life measures to assess effectiveness between the models. RESULTS: Both online and in-office groups showed improvement in psoriasis disease severity as measured by mean improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (online group: mean = -3.4, in-office: mean = -3.4). Patient-centered online care resulted in similar improvement in psoriasis severity compared with in-person follow-up care (mean difference in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index change 0.1, 95% confidence interval -2.2 to 2.3, a priori equivalence margin of 2.5). Investigator Global Assessment and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores also improved during the study period; no significant differences existed between the two groups. LIMITATIONS: The follow-up period was limited to 24 weeks. CONCLUSION: A patient-centered online model may be an effective alternative to in-office care for follow-up management of psoriasis.