Biological Therapies and Obesity Impact on Psoriasis

What defines patients suitable for systemic therapy for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis?

Which of the following is a key downside of topical therapies for psoriasis?

What has been a recent shift in practice guidelines for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis?

What is a characteristic of phototherapy in the treatment of psoriasis?

Which of the following patients might be considered suitable for systemic therapy?

Which area is not typically classified as a special site for psoriasis evaluation?

Why are some older treatments being replaced by newer therapies for psoriasis?

What is one of the criteria for determining if a patient qualifies for systemic psoriasis treatment?

Which factor is not typically associated with the management of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis?

What is the primary limitation that leads to switching to systemic therapies from topical treatments?

Biological Therapies and Bariatric Surgery

Biological therapies (biologics) show less efficacy in some cases, with studies indicating a beneficial effect of bariatric surgery on psoriasis.
Individual educational interventions can improve management outcomes, though they may be challenging in resource-limited settings.

Treatment Strategies for Plaque Psoriasis

Treatment plans should consider psoriasis severity, presence of psoriatic arthritis, associated medical conditions, and patient preferences.
Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) radiation effectively treats plaque psoriasis, though it carries risks of burning and a lower potential for photocarcinogenesis compared to photochemotherapy.
Treatment goals often aim for a psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score of 2 or less, or similar assessments indicating a 90% reduction from baseline.

Oral Systemic Therapies

Before biologics emerged, oral systemic treatments were the primary option for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
Patients eligible for systemic therapy generally have psoriasis covering more than 10% of their body surface area or have not responded to topical treatments.
Commonly used oral agents include methotrexate and cyclosporine, but adherence to topical therapies remains a challenge due to their extensive use and side effects.

Topical Therapy

Emollients should be liberally applied to all patients as a foundational treatment.
Topical therapies remain an option for patients with limited psoriasis affecting less than 3-5% of their body surface area.
Common topical agents include corticosteroids and anthralin, along with modern cosmetic options that prioritize appearance.

Phototherapy

Ultraviolet radiation serves an immunosuppressive role locally, impacting the severity of psoriasis.
Practice guidelines have evolved to assess treatment options concurrently rather than sequentially, reflecting the need for more immediate and effective management.

Explore the effects of biological therapies and bariatric surgery on psoriasis management. This quiz covers recent studies highlighting the benefits of these interventions, along with individual educational sessions that have proven successful. Test your knowledge on the interactions between obesity and psoriasis treatments.