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SAN DIEGO – Researchers found no evidence of increased risk of serious or opportunistic infections in infants born to pregnant women who were treated with biologic medication for their rheumatoid arthritis, according to a cohort study.

“These data add to what we’re beginning to learn about these medications that are so commonly used in women of reproductive age, and who have concerns about whether they can use them safely or not during pregnancy,” lead study author Christina D. Chambers, PhD, MPH, said during a press briefing at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. To date, theoretical concern exists that the use of biologics could interfere with postnatal immune function in the infant, said Dr. Chambers, a perinatal epidemiologist and teratologist at the University of California, San Diego. “The theory has been that because of the size of the molecule, little placental transfer is thought to take place early in pregnancy, but later in pregnancy, more placental transfer may be possible,” she said.

In an effort to investigate the risk of serious or opportunistic infections for infants whose mothers used biologics during pregnancy, the researchers conducted an observational cohort study from pregnant women participating in the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project from 2004 through 2016. Mothers fell into one of three groups: 502 pregnancies where the mother with RA was treated with a biologic with or without other disease modifying anti-rheumatic medications during her pregnancy (group A); 231 pregnancies where the mother had RA but did not use any biologics during pregnancy (group B), and 423 pregnancies where the mother had no chronic diseases at all (group C). The investigators defined the serious or opportunistic infections as a list of 16 infections that included X-ray proven pneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, tuberculosis, herpes, listeria, legionella, mycobacteria, systemic cytomegalovirus and abscess. The one-year follow-up data was collected from medical records and corroborated with maternal reports.

Among the pregnant mothers in group A, 43% took their last dose in the first or second trimester, and 57% percent took their last dose in the third trimester. Dr. Chambers reported that 20 of the 502 infants in group A developed at least one serious or opportunistic infection, for a rate of 4%, while the rates among infants in groups B and C were 2.6% and 2.1%, respectively. The most common infections seen were X-ray proven pneumonia, sepsis, bacteremia, meningitis, and abscess. Between 11% and 19% of infants had more than one infection over the one-year period.

In a subset analysis of 285 women in group A who had third trimester exposure to one of the biologics, 10 infants had at least one serious or opportunistic infection, for a rate of 3.5%, which was statistically similar to that of groups B and C (2.6% and 2.1%, respectively).

“These data provide some reassurance for clinicians who are concerned that their patients need to be treated with a biologic late in pregnancy rather than take them off the drug during that period of time,” Dr. Chambers said. She acknowledged certain limitations of the study, including the fact that the researchers did not examine risk of less serious infections, such as more frequent colds or ear infections in the infants, and they did not have any direct measure of their immune function.

Dr. Chambers disclosed having received research support from AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P., Pfizer Inc, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Seqirus, GSK, UCB, and Sanofi-Aventis.

dbrunk@frontlinemedcom.com

SAN DIEGO – Researchers found no evidence of increased risk of serious or opportunistic infections in infants born to pregnant women who were treated with biologic medication for their rheumatoid arthritis, according to a cohort study.

“These data add to what we’re beginning to learn about these medications that are so commonly used in women of reproductive age, and who have concerns about whether they can use them safely or not during pregnancy,” lead study author Christina D. Chambers, PhD, MPH, said during a press briefing at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. To date, theoretical concern exists that the use of biologics could interfere with postnatal immune function in the infant, said Dr. Chambers, a perinatal epidemiologist and teratologist at the University of California, San Diego. “The theory has been that because of the size of the molecule, little placental transfer is thought to take place early in pregnancy, but later in pregnancy, more placental transfer may be possible,” she said.

In an effort to investigate the risk of serious or opportunistic infections for infants whose mothers used biologics during pregnancy, the researchers conducted an observational cohort study from pregnant women participating in the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project from 2004 through 2016. Mothers fell into one of three groups: 502 pregnancies where the mother with RA was treated with a biologic with or without other disease modifying anti-rheumatic medications during her pregnancy (group A); 231 pregnancies where the mother had RA but did not use any biologics during pregnancy (group B), and 423 pregnancies where the mother had no chronic diseases at all (group C). The investigators defined the serious or opportunistic infections as a list of 16 infections that included X-ray proven pneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, tuberculosis, herpes, listeria, legionella, mycobacteria, systemic cytomegalovirus and abscess. The one-year follow-up data was collected from medical records and corroborated with maternal reports.

Among the pregnant mothers in group A, 43% took their last dose in the first or second trimester, and 57% percent took their last dose in the third trimester. Dr. Chambers reported that 20 of the 502 infants in group A developed at least one serious or opportunistic infection, for a rate of 4%, while the rates among infants in groups B and C were 2.6% and 2.1%, respectively. The most common infections seen were X-ray proven pneumonia, sepsis, bacteremia, meningitis, and abscess. Between 11% and 19% of infants had more than one infection over the one-year period.

In a subset analysis of 285 women in group A who had third trimester exposure to one of the biologics, 10 infants had at least one serious or opportunistic infection, for a rate of 3.5%, which was statistically similar to that of groups B and C (2.6% and 2.1%, respectively).

“These data provide some reassurance for clinicians who are concerned that their patients need to be treated with a biologic late in pregnancy rather than take them off the drug during that period of time,” Dr. Chambers said. She acknowledged certain limitations of the study, including the fact that the researchers did not examine risk of less serious infections, such as more frequent colds or ear infections in the infants, and they did not have any direct measure of their immune function.

Dr. Chambers disclosed having received research support from AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P., Pfizer Inc, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Seqirus, GSK, UCB, and Sanofi-Aventis.

dbrunk@frontlinemedcom.com

SAN DIEGO – Researchers found no evidence of increased risk of serious or opportunistic infections in infants born to pregnant women who were treated with biologic medication for their rheumatoid arthritis, according to a cohort study.

“These data add to what we’re beginning to learn about these medications that are so commonly used in women of reproductive age, and who have concerns about whether they can use them safely or not during pregnancy,” lead study author Christina D. Chambers, PhD, MPH, said during a press briefing at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. To date, theoretical concern exists that the use of biologics could interfere with postnatal immune function in the infant, said Dr. Chambers, a perinatal epidemiologist and teratologist at the University of California, San Diego. “The theory has been that because of the size of the molecule, little placental transfer is thought to take place early in pregnancy, but later in pregnancy, more placental transfer may be possible,” she said.

In an effort to investigate the risk of serious or opportunistic infections for infants whose mothers used biologics during pregnancy, the researchers conducted an observational cohort study from pregnant women participating in the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) Autoimmune Diseases in Pregnancy Project from 2004 through 2016. Mothers fell into one of three groups: 502 pregnancies where the mother with RA was treated with a biologic with or without other disease modifying anti-rheumatic medications during her pregnancy (group A); 231 pregnancies where the mother had RA but did not use any biologics during pregnancy (group B), and 423 pregnancies where the mother had no chronic diseases at all (group C). The investigators defined the serious or opportunistic infections as a list of 16 infections that included X-ray proven pneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, tuberculosis, herpes, listeria, legionella, mycobacteria, systemic cytomegalovirus and abscess. The one-year follow-up data was collected from medical records and corroborated with maternal reports.

Among the pregnant mothers in group A, 43% took their last dose in the first or second trimester, and 57% percent took their last dose in the third trimester. Dr. Chambers reported that 20 of the 502 infants in group A developed at least one serious or opportunistic infection, for a rate of 4%, while the rates among infants in groups B and C were 2.6% and 2.1%, respectively. The most common infections seen were X-ray proven pneumonia, sepsis, bacteremia, meningitis, and abscess. Between 11% and 19% of infants had more than one infection over the one-year period.

In a subset analysis of 285 women in group A who had third trimester exposure to one of the biologics, 10 infants had at least one serious or opportunistic infection, for a rate of 3.5%, which was statistically similar to that of groups B and C (2.6% and 2.1%, respectively).

“These data provide some reassurance for clinicians who are concerned that their patients need to be treated with a biologic late in pregnancy rather than take them off the drug during that period of time,” Dr. Chambers said. She acknowledged certain limitations of the study, including the fact that the researchers did not examine risk of less serious infections, such as more frequent colds or ear infections in the infants, and they did not have any direct measure of their immune function.

Dr. Chambers disclosed having received research support from AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P., Pfizer Inc, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Seqirus, GSK, UCB, and Sanofi-Aventis.

dbrunk@frontlinemedcom.com

If you haven’t started reporting quality data for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), there’s still time to avoid a 4% cut to your Medicare payments.

Under the Pick Your Pace approach being offered this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services allows clinicians to test the system by reporting on one quality measure for one patient through paper-based claims. Be sure to append a Quality Data Code (QDC) to the claim form for care provided up to Dec. 31, 2017, in order to avoid a penalty in payment year 2019.

Consider this measure:

Measure #1: Diabetes: HbA_1c Poor Control

The measure is aimed at capturing the percentage of patients aged 18-75 years with diabetes who had a hemoglobin A_1c greater than 9.0%. For this inverse measure, a lower performance rate indicates better clinical care.

What you need to do: Document the patient’s most recent HbA_1c level that was performed during the last 12 months.

Eligible cases include patients aged 18-75 years on the date of the encounter who had a documented diagnosis of diabetes. One of the following services must be performed at the visit (CPT or HCPCS): 97802, 97803, 97804, 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99217, 99218, 99219, 99220, 99221, 99222, 99223, 99231, 99232, 99233, 99238, 99239, 99281, 99282, 99283, 99284, 99285, 99291, 99304, 99305, 99306, 99307, 99308, 99309, 99310, 99315, 99316, 99318, 99324, 99325, 99326, 99327, 99328, 99334, 99335, 99336, 99337, 99341, 99342, 99343, 99344, 99345, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350, G0270, G0271, G0402, G0438, G0439.

To get credit under MIPS, be sure to include a QDC that shows that you successfully performed the measure or that you had a good reason for not doing so. For instance, CPT II 3046F indicates that the most recent hemoglobin A_1c level was greater than 9.0%, CPT II 3044F indicates that the most recent HbA_1c level was less than 7.0%, and CPT II 3045F indicates that the most recent HbA_1c level was between 7.0% and 9.0%.

CMS has a full list of measures available for claims-based reporting at qpp.cms.gov. The American Medical Association also has created a step-by-step guide for reporting on one quality measure.

Certain clinicians are exempt from reporting and do not face a penalty under MIPS:

• Those who enrolled in Medicare for the first time during a performance period.

• Those who have Medicare Part B allowed charges of $30,000 or less.

• Those who have 100 or fewer Medicare Part B patients.

• Those who are significantly participating in an Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM).


 

If you haven’t started reporting quality data for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), there’s still time to avoid a 4% cut to your Medicare payments.

Under the Pick Your Pace approach being offered this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services allows clinicians to test the system by reporting on one quality measure for one patient through paper-based claims. Be sure to append a Quality Data Code (QDC) to the claim form for care provided up to Dec. 31, 2017, in order to avoid a penalty in payment year 2019.

Consider this measure:

Measure #1: Diabetes: HbA_1c Poor Control

The measure is aimed at capturing the percentage of patients aged 18-75 years with diabetes who had a hemoglobin A_1c greater than 9.0%. For this inverse measure, a lower performance rate indicates better clinical care.

What you need to do: Document the patient’s most recent HbA_1c level that was performed during the last 12 months.

Eligible cases include patients aged 18-75 years on the date of the encounter who had a documented diagnosis of diabetes. One of the following services must be performed at the visit (CPT or HCPCS): 97802, 97803, 97804, 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99217, 99218, 99219, 99220, 99221, 99222, 99223, 99231, 99232, 99233, 99238, 99239, 99281, 99282, 99283, 99284, 99285, 99291, 99304, 99305, 99306, 99307, 99308, 99309, 99310, 99315, 99316, 99318, 99324, 99325, 99326, 99327, 99328, 99334, 99335, 99336, 99337, 99341, 99342, 99343, 99344, 99345, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350, G0270, G0271, G0402, G0438, G0439.

To get credit under MIPS, be sure to include a QDC that shows that you successfully performed the measure or that you had a good reason for not doing so. For instance, CPT II 3046F indicates that the most recent hemoglobin A_1c level was greater than 9.0%, CPT II 3044F indicates that the most recent HbA_1c level was less than 7.0%, and CPT II 3045F indicates that the most recent HbA_1c level was between 7.0% and 9.0%.

CMS has a full list of measures available for claims-based reporting at qpp.cms.gov. The American Medical Association also has created a step-by-step guide for reporting on one quality measure.

Certain clinicians are exempt from reporting and do not face a penalty under MIPS:

• Those who enrolled in Medicare for the first time during a performance period.

• Those who have Medicare Part B allowed charges of $30,000 or less.

• Those who have 100 or fewer Medicare Part B patients.

• Those who are significantly participating in an Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM).


 

If you haven’t started reporting quality data for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), there’s still time to avoid a 4% cut to your Medicare payments.

Under the Pick Your Pace approach being offered this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services allows clinicians to test the system by reporting on one quality measure for one patient through paper-based claims. Be sure to append a Quality Data Code (QDC) to the claim form for care provided up to Dec. 31, 2017, in order to avoid a penalty in payment year 2019.

Consider this measure:

Measure #1: Diabetes: HbA_1c Poor Control

The measure is aimed at capturing the percentage of patients aged 18-75 years with diabetes who had a hemoglobin A_1c greater than 9.0%. For this inverse measure, a lower performance rate indicates better clinical care.

What you need to do: Document the patient’s most recent HbA_1c level that was performed during the last 12 months.

Eligible cases include patients aged 18-75 years on the date of the encounter who had a documented diagnosis of diabetes. One of the following services must be performed at the visit (CPT or HCPCS): 97802, 97803, 97804, 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99217, 99218, 99219, 99220, 99221, 99222, 99223, 99231, 99232, 99233, 99238, 99239, 99281, 99282, 99283, 99284, 99285, 99291, 99304, 99305, 99306, 99307, 99308, 99309, 99310, 99315, 99316, 99318, 99324, 99325, 99326, 99327, 99328, 99334, 99335, 99336, 99337, 99341, 99342, 99343, 99344, 99345, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350, G0270, G0271, G0402, G0438, G0439.

To get credit under MIPS, be sure to include a QDC that shows that you successfully performed the measure or that you had a good reason for not doing so. For instance, CPT II 3046F indicates that the most recent hemoglobin A_1c level was greater than 9.0%, CPT II 3044F indicates that the most recent HbA_1c level was less than 7.0%, and CPT II 3045F indicates that the most recent HbA_1c level was between 7.0% and 9.0%.

CMS has a full list of measures available for claims-based reporting at qpp.cms.gov. The American Medical Association also has created a step-by-step guide for reporting on one quality measure.

Certain clinicians are exempt from reporting and do not face a penalty under MIPS:

• Those who enrolled in Medicare for the first time during a performance period.

• Those who have Medicare Part B allowed charges of $30,000 or less.

• Those who have 100 or fewer Medicare Part B patients.

• Those who are significantly participating in an Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM).


 

SAN DIEGO – Among patients with axial spondyloarthropathy, higher BMI and obesity independently predicts worse disease outcomes, according to results from a registry study.

“Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges facing us in the 21st century,” lead study author Gillian Fitzgerald, MD, said in an interview in advance of the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

“Traditionally, we have a perception of patients with axial SpA being of normal or even thin body habitus. However, recent studies have indicated that this is not the case and that obesity is prevalent in axial SpA patients. The negative consequences of obesity in the general population are well documented, with affected patients suffering greater morbidity and mortality.”

Dr. Fitzgerald, of St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, noted that research to date in axial SpA indicates that disease outcomes may be worse in obese patients. However, existing literature looking at obesity in axial SpA is relatively sparse. In an effort to clarify this issue, she and her associates evaluated 683 patients from the Ankylosing Spondylitis Registry of Ireland (ASRI), which is designed to provide descriptive epidemiological data on the Irish axSpA population via standardized clinical assessments and structured interviews. The mean age of the 683 patients enrolled as of June 2017 was 46, the majority (77%) were men, their mean disease duration was 19 years, and their mean delay to diagnosis was nine years. Most (79%) fulfilled Modified New York modified criteria, their mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was 3.9, their mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) was 3.6, their mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) was 3.6 and their mean Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was 0.52.

Based on WHO criteria, the cohort’s mean BMI was 27.8 kg/m2. Of these, 38.9% were overweight and 28.4% were obese. “Indeed, only 32% of the cohort have a healthy BMI,” Dr. Fitzgerald commented. “When we looked at the relationship between BMI and disease outcomes, we found that obese patients had more severe disease than their normal weight and overweight counterparts, with higher measures of disease activity, quality of life, disability and function, as well as worse spinal mobility.”

The researchers also observed that the prevalence of smoking was lower in obese patients, compared with normal weight patients (18% vs. 38, respectively). In univariable linear regression, BMI and obesity were associated with higher BASDAI, BASMI, BASFI and HAQ scores. In multivariable regression analysis, only obesity remained an independent predictor of higher disease activity and worse function (P less than .01).

“As clinicians, we are always looking for ways to reduce the burden of disease that patients carry and to improve outcomes,” Dr. Fitzgerald said. “In this study, we demonstrated that over two-thirds of our axial SpA patients are either overweight or obese, and that these patients have more severe disease. Further research is needed to clarify this relationship between obesity and disease severity; in particular, the effect of losing weight on disease outcomes needs to be clarified. However, when devising treatment plans for axial SpA patients, this study provides rheumatologists with a strong rationale to include strategies to actively control weight.”

She acknowledged that the study’s cross-sectional design is a limitation. “This means cause and effect can’t be determined exclusively from this study; therefore, prospective studies are required to further clarify this relationship that we have noted between obesity and disease outcomes.”

ASRI is funded by an unrestricted grant from AbbVie and Pfizer. Dr. Fitzgerald disclosed having received research support from AbbVie.

dbrunk@frontlinemedcom.com

SAN DIEGO – Among patients with axial spondyloarthropathy, higher BMI and obesity independently predicts worse disease outcomes, according to results from a registry study.

“Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges facing us in the 21st century,” lead study author Gillian Fitzgerald, MD, said in an interview in advance of the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

“Traditionally, we have a perception of patients with axial SpA being of normal or even thin body habitus. However, recent studies have indicated that this is not the case and that obesity is prevalent in axial SpA patients. The negative consequences of obesity in the general population are well documented, with affected patients suffering greater morbidity and mortality.”

Dr. Fitzgerald, of St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, noted that research to date in axial SpA indicates that disease outcomes may be worse in obese patients. However, existing literature looking at obesity in axial SpA is relatively sparse. In an effort to clarify this issue, she and her associates evaluated 683 patients from the Ankylosing Spondylitis Registry of Ireland (ASRI), which is designed to provide descriptive epidemiological data on the Irish axSpA population via standardized clinical assessments and structured interviews. The mean age of the 683 patients enrolled as of June 2017 was 46, the majority (77%) were men, their mean disease duration was 19 years, and their mean delay to diagnosis was nine years. Most (79%) fulfilled Modified New York modified criteria, their mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was 3.9, their mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) was 3.6, their mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) was 3.6 and their mean Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was 0.52.

Based on WHO criteria, the cohort’s mean BMI was 27.8 kg/m2. Of these, 38.9% were overweight and 28.4% were obese. “Indeed, only 32% of the cohort have a healthy BMI,” Dr. Fitzgerald commented. “When we looked at the relationship between BMI and disease outcomes, we found that obese patients had more severe disease than their normal weight and overweight counterparts, with higher measures of disease activity, quality of life, disability and function, as well as worse spinal mobility.”

The researchers also observed that the prevalence of smoking was lower in obese patients, compared with normal weight patients (18% vs. 38, respectively). In univariable linear regression, BMI and obesity were associated with higher BASDAI, BASMI, BASFI and HAQ scores. In multivariable regression analysis, only obesity remained an independent predictor of higher disease activity and worse function (P less than .01).

“As clinicians, we are always looking for ways to reduce the burden of disease that patients carry and to improve outcomes,” Dr. Fitzgerald said. “In this study, we demonstrated that over two-thirds of our axial SpA patients are either overweight or obese, and that these patients have more severe disease. Further research is needed to clarify this relationship between obesity and disease severity; in particular, the effect of losing weight on disease outcomes needs to be clarified. However, when devising treatment plans for axial SpA patients, this study provides rheumatologists with a strong rationale to include strategies to actively control weight.”

She acknowledged that the study’s cross-sectional design is a limitation. “This means cause and effect can’t be determined exclusively from this study; therefore, prospective studies are required to further clarify this relationship that we have noted between obesity and disease outcomes.”

ASRI is funded by an unrestricted grant from AbbVie and Pfizer. Dr. Fitzgerald disclosed having received research support from AbbVie.

dbrunk@frontlinemedcom.com

SAN DIEGO – Among patients with axial spondyloarthropathy, higher BMI and obesity independently predicts worse disease outcomes, according to results from a registry study.

“Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges facing us in the 21st century,” lead study author Gillian Fitzgerald, MD, said in an interview in advance of the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

“Traditionally, we have a perception of patients with axial SpA being of normal or even thin body habitus. However, recent studies have indicated that this is not the case and that obesity is prevalent in axial SpA patients. The negative consequences of obesity in the general population are well documented, with affected patients suffering greater morbidity and mortality.”

Dr. Fitzgerald, of St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, noted that research to date in axial SpA indicates that disease outcomes may be worse in obese patients. However, existing literature looking at obesity in axial SpA is relatively sparse. In an effort to clarify this issue, she and her associates evaluated 683 patients from the Ankylosing Spondylitis Registry of Ireland (ASRI), which is designed to provide descriptive epidemiological data on the Irish axSpA population via standardized clinical assessments and structured interviews. The mean age of the 683 patients enrolled as of June 2017 was 46, the majority (77%) were men, their mean disease duration was 19 years, and their mean delay to diagnosis was nine years. Most (79%) fulfilled Modified New York modified criteria, their mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was 3.9, their mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) was 3.6, their mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) was 3.6 and their mean Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was 0.52.

Based on WHO criteria, the cohort’s mean BMI was 27.8 kg/m2. Of these, 38.9% were overweight and 28.4% were obese. “Indeed, only 32% of the cohort have a healthy BMI,” Dr. Fitzgerald commented. “When we looked at the relationship between BMI and disease outcomes, we found that obese patients had more severe disease than their normal weight and overweight counterparts, with higher measures of disease activity, quality of life, disability and function, as well as worse spinal mobility.”

The researchers also observed that the prevalence of smoking was lower in obese patients, compared with normal weight patients (18% vs. 38, respectively). In univariable linear regression, BMI and obesity were associated with higher BASDAI, BASMI, BASFI and HAQ scores. In multivariable regression analysis, only obesity remained an independent predictor of higher disease activity and worse function (P less than .01).

“As clinicians, we are always looking for ways to reduce the burden of disease that patients carry and to improve outcomes,” Dr. Fitzgerald said. “In this study, we demonstrated that over two-thirds of our axial SpA patients are either overweight or obese, and that these patients have more severe disease. Further research is needed to clarify this relationship between obesity and disease severity; in particular, the effect of losing weight on disease outcomes needs to be clarified. However, when devising treatment plans for axial SpA patients, this study provides rheumatologists with a strong rationale to include strategies to actively control weight.”

She acknowledged that the study’s cross-sectional design is a limitation. “This means cause and effect can’t be determined exclusively from this study; therefore, prospective studies are required to further clarify this relationship that we have noted between obesity and disease outcomes.”

ASRI is funded by an unrestricted grant from AbbVie and Pfizer. Dr. Fitzgerald disclosed having received research support from AbbVie.

dbrunk@frontlinemedcom.com

LAS VEGAS – Clinicians should not shy away from light-based treatment of vascular lesions in children, for reasons that include achieving better results when treated early, according to Kristen M. Kelly, MD.

Special considerations include addressing children’s fears. “One of the strategies we use is we have child life specialists who help us” create a friendly and welcoming environment, Dr. Kelly said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar. Consequently, “many of our children actually come in, they’re excited about their visit ... and are looking forward to seeing us at the next visit,” she noted.

Which type of anesthesia to use is another important consideration when treating children, said Dr. Kelly of the University of California, Irvine, in Orange. “For a larger procedure ... one definitely could consider general anesthesia,” but there are risks and benefits to general anesthesia in very young children, and options should be discussed with patients and their families, she said.

Dr. Kelly disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, MundiPharma, Syneron-Candela, Light Sciences Oncology, Novartis, Sciton, and ThermiRF.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

LAS VEGAS – Clinicians should not shy away from light-based treatment of vascular lesions in children, for reasons that include achieving better results when treated early, according to Kristen M. Kelly, MD.

Special considerations include addressing children’s fears. “One of the strategies we use is we have child life specialists who help us” create a friendly and welcoming environment, Dr. Kelly said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar. Consequently, “many of our children actually come in, they’re excited about their visit ... and are looking forward to seeing us at the next visit,” she noted.

Which type of anesthesia to use is another important consideration when treating children, said Dr. Kelly of the University of California, Irvine, in Orange. “For a larger procedure ... one definitely could consider general anesthesia,” but there are risks and benefits to general anesthesia in very young children, and options should be discussed with patients and their families, she said.

Dr. Kelly disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, MundiPharma, Syneron-Candela, Light Sciences Oncology, Novartis, Sciton, and ThermiRF.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

LAS VEGAS – Clinicians should not shy away from light-based treatment of vascular lesions in children, for reasons that include achieving better results when treated early, according to Kristen M. Kelly, MD.

Special considerations include addressing children’s fears. “One of the strategies we use is we have child life specialists who help us” create a friendly and welcoming environment, Dr. Kelly said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar. Consequently, “many of our children actually come in, they’re excited about their visit ... and are looking forward to seeing us at the next visit,” she noted.

Which type of anesthesia to use is another important consideration when treating children, said Dr. Kelly of the University of California, Irvine, in Orange. “For a larger procedure ... one definitely could consider general anesthesia,” but there are risks and benefits to general anesthesia in very young children, and options should be discussed with patients and their families, she said.

Dr. Kelly disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, MundiPharma, Syneron-Candela, Light Sciences Oncology, Novartis, Sciton, and ThermiRF.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

LAS VEGAS – For challenging cases of oral or cutaneous lichen planus, bullous pemphigoid, or lupus, Miriam S. Bettencourt, MD, recommends thinking outside the box and considering off-label treatments.

At the Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar, Dr. Bettencourt discussed such cases, including a series of patients with oral lichen planus who improved with apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor approved for psoriasis.

In a video interview at the meeting, she described one of those patients, a 73-year-old woman with mouth ulcers who was diagnosed with oral lichen planus. Multiple topical and oral therapies proved unsuccessful, and her condition was eventually controlled with apremilast, and the patient is doing well, “with occasional flares,” said Dr. Bettencourt, of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

She described this case in her annual presentation at the meeting, titled “Great Cases From the Las Vegas Dermatology Society.”

Dr. Bettencourt disclosed relationships with multiple companies including AbbVie, Aclaris, Celgene, IntraDerm, Pfizer, Promium, Sun Pharma, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

LAS VEGAS – For challenging cases of oral or cutaneous lichen planus, bullous pemphigoid, or lupus, Miriam S. Bettencourt, MD, recommends thinking outside the box and considering off-label treatments.

At the Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar, Dr. Bettencourt discussed such cases, including a series of patients with oral lichen planus who improved with apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor approved for psoriasis.

In a video interview at the meeting, she described one of those patients, a 73-year-old woman with mouth ulcers who was diagnosed with oral lichen planus. Multiple topical and oral therapies proved unsuccessful, and her condition was eventually controlled with apremilast, and the patient is doing well, “with occasional flares,” said Dr. Bettencourt, of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

She described this case in her annual presentation at the meeting, titled “Great Cases From the Las Vegas Dermatology Society.”

Dr. Bettencourt disclosed relationships with multiple companies including AbbVie, Aclaris, Celgene, IntraDerm, Pfizer, Promium, Sun Pharma, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

LAS VEGAS – For challenging cases of oral or cutaneous lichen planus, bullous pemphigoid, or lupus, Miriam S. Bettencourt, MD, recommends thinking outside the box and considering off-label treatments.

At the Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar, Dr. Bettencourt discussed such cases, including a series of patients with oral lichen planus who improved with apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor approved for psoriasis.

In a video interview at the meeting, she described one of those patients, a 73-year-old woman with mouth ulcers who was diagnosed with oral lichen planus. Multiple topical and oral therapies proved unsuccessful, and her condition was eventually controlled with apremilast, and the patient is doing well, “with occasional flares,” said Dr. Bettencourt, of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

She described this case in her annual presentation at the meeting, titled “Great Cases From the Las Vegas Dermatology Society.”

Dr. Bettencourt disclosed relationships with multiple companies including AbbVie, Aclaris, Celgene, IntraDerm, Pfizer, Promium, Sun Pharma, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

WASHINGTON – Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a nonmitogenic hormone, improved fibrosis, liver injury, and steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), according to a study presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease’s annual meeting.

There is no drug therapy currently available for NASH, the most advanced form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), creating a strong need for effective treatments, according to Arun Sanyal, MD, of the Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, said in a video interview.

This treatment “relative to placebo was associated with improvements in biomarkers of fibrosis, metabolic parameters, and markers of hepatic injury,” said Dr. Sanyal. “These results suggest BMS-986036 [FGF21] has beneficial effects on steatosis, liver injury, and fibrosis in NASH.”

Investigators conducted a phase 2 multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 74 NASH patients to test BMS-986036, a pegylated version of FGF21.

Patients were an average of 51 years old, most were women (64%), who were predominantly white (96%), with a mean hepatic fat fraction of 19%.

Patients received either a 10-mg treatment daily, a 20-mg treatment weekly, or placebo, over the course of 16 weeks, with patients distributed equally among the three arms.

Overall hepatic fat fraction among the daily and weekly treatment groups reduced by 6.8% and 5.2%, respectively, compared with the placebo group, which reduced by 1.3% (P less than .001).

Patients in the treatment arms also saw improvement in average adiponectin levels, growing 15.3% in the daily arm and 15.7% in the weekly arm. Meanwhile, adiponectin levels dropped by an average of 3.5% in the placebo group.

In investigating serum Pro-C3 levels, which are associated with fibrosis, patients in the daily and weekly treatment group saw an average drop of 29% and 19%, respectively, as opposed to an increase of 2% in the placebo group (P less than .0001).

Patients in the treatment groups saw no serious adverse effects, and no patients died during the study.

Dr. Sanyal received funding for this study from Bristol-Myers Squibb and reported receiving financial compensation from Pfizer, Nimbus, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and other similar companies.

ezimmerman@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @eaztweets

WASHINGTON – Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a nonmitogenic hormone, improved fibrosis, liver injury, and steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), according to a study presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease’s annual meeting.

There is no drug therapy currently available for NASH, the most advanced form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), creating a strong need for effective treatments, according to Arun Sanyal, MD, of the Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, said in a video interview.

This treatment “relative to placebo was associated with improvements in biomarkers of fibrosis, metabolic parameters, and markers of hepatic injury,” said Dr. Sanyal. “These results suggest BMS-986036 [FGF21] has beneficial effects on steatosis, liver injury, and fibrosis in NASH.”

Investigators conducted a phase 2 multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 74 NASH patients to test BMS-986036, a pegylated version of FGF21.

Patients were an average of 51 years old, most were women (64%), who were predominantly white (96%), with a mean hepatic fat fraction of 19%.

Patients received either a 10-mg treatment daily, a 20-mg treatment weekly, or placebo, over the course of 16 weeks, with patients distributed equally among the three arms.

Overall hepatic fat fraction among the daily and weekly treatment groups reduced by 6.8% and 5.2%, respectively, compared with the placebo group, which reduced by 1.3% (P less than .001).

Patients in the treatment arms also saw improvement in average adiponectin levels, growing 15.3% in the daily arm and 15.7% in the weekly arm. Meanwhile, adiponectin levels dropped by an average of 3.5% in the placebo group.

In investigating serum Pro-C3 levels, which are associated with fibrosis, patients in the daily and weekly treatment group saw an average drop of 29% and 19%, respectively, as opposed to an increase of 2% in the placebo group (P less than .0001).

Patients in the treatment groups saw no serious adverse effects, and no patients died during the study.

Dr. Sanyal received funding for this study from Bristol-Myers Squibb and reported receiving financial compensation from Pfizer, Nimbus, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and other similar companies.

ezimmerman@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @eaztweets

WASHINGTON – Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a nonmitogenic hormone, improved fibrosis, liver injury, and steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), according to a study presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease’s annual meeting.

There is no drug therapy currently available for NASH, the most advanced form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), creating a strong need for effective treatments, according to Arun Sanyal, MD, of the Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, said in a video interview.

This treatment “relative to placebo was associated with improvements in biomarkers of fibrosis, metabolic parameters, and markers of hepatic injury,” said Dr. Sanyal. “These results suggest BMS-986036 [FGF21] has beneficial effects on steatosis, liver injury, and fibrosis in NASH.”

Investigators conducted a phase 2 multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 74 NASH patients to test BMS-986036, a pegylated version of FGF21.

Patients were an average of 51 years old, most were women (64%), who were predominantly white (96%), with a mean hepatic fat fraction of 19%.

Patients received either a 10-mg treatment daily, a 20-mg treatment weekly, or placebo, over the course of 16 weeks, with patients distributed equally among the three arms.

Overall hepatic fat fraction among the daily and weekly treatment groups reduced by 6.8% and 5.2%, respectively, compared with the placebo group, which reduced by 1.3% (P less than .001).

Patients in the treatment arms also saw improvement in average adiponectin levels, growing 15.3% in the daily arm and 15.7% in the weekly arm. Meanwhile, adiponectin levels dropped by an average of 3.5% in the placebo group.

In investigating serum Pro-C3 levels, which are associated with fibrosis, patients in the daily and weekly treatment group saw an average drop of 29% and 19%, respectively, as opposed to an increase of 2% in the placebo group (P less than .0001).

Patients in the treatment groups saw no serious adverse effects, and no patients died during the study.

Dr. Sanyal received funding for this study from Bristol-Myers Squibb and reported receiving financial compensation from Pfizer, Nimbus, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and other similar companies.

ezimmerman@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @eaztweets

LAS VEGAS – One of the benefits of the recently approved inactivated herpes zoster is its efficacy in older adults, Kenneth J. Tomecki, MD, said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar.

In addition, the vaccine will be recommended not only for healthy adults, but for ill adults aged 50 years and older, said Dr. Tomecki of the department of dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic. “Efficacy is greater than 90% for zoster and postherpetic neuralgia” with the new vaccine, he added.

Vaccination rates among eligible adults with the current vaccine, which is highly effective, are low, but ideally, the advent of the new vaccine will boost vaccination rates, especially in older adults, he noted.

The new vaccine, which will be marketed as Shingrix, was approved in October by the Food and Drug Administration for preventing herpes zoster in adults aged 50 years and older. The currently available herpes zoster vaccine, Zostavax, a live attenuated virus vaccine, was approved by the FDA in 2006.

Dr. Tomecki had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.
 

LAS VEGAS – One of the benefits of the recently approved inactivated herpes zoster is its efficacy in older adults, Kenneth J. Tomecki, MD, said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar.

In addition, the vaccine will be recommended not only for healthy adults, but for ill adults aged 50 years and older, said Dr. Tomecki of the department of dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic. “Efficacy is greater than 90% for zoster and postherpetic neuralgia” with the new vaccine, he added.

Vaccination rates among eligible adults with the current vaccine, which is highly effective, are low, but ideally, the advent of the new vaccine will boost vaccination rates, especially in older adults, he noted.

The new vaccine, which will be marketed as Shingrix, was approved in October by the Food and Drug Administration for preventing herpes zoster in adults aged 50 years and older. The currently available herpes zoster vaccine, Zostavax, a live attenuated virus vaccine, was approved by the FDA in 2006.

Dr. Tomecki had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.
 

LAS VEGAS – One of the benefits of the recently approved inactivated herpes zoster is its efficacy in older adults, Kenneth J. Tomecki, MD, said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar.

In addition, the vaccine will be recommended not only for healthy adults, but for ill adults aged 50 years and older, said Dr. Tomecki of the department of dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic. “Efficacy is greater than 90% for zoster and postherpetic neuralgia” with the new vaccine, he added.

Vaccination rates among eligible adults with the current vaccine, which is highly effective, are low, but ideally, the advent of the new vaccine will boost vaccination rates, especially in older adults, he noted.

The new vaccine, which will be marketed as Shingrix, was approved in October by the Food and Drug Administration for preventing herpes zoster in adults aged 50 years and older. The currently available herpes zoster vaccine, Zostavax, a live attenuated virus vaccine, was approved by the FDA in 2006.

Dr. Tomecki had no financial conflicts to disclose.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.
 

LAS VEGAS – Patients with acne don’t want to be better, they want to be clear, Julie Harper, MD, said at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar.

Even one lesion on the face can ruin someone’s day, said Dr. Harper, a dermatologist in private practice in Birmingham, Ala., and an author of the 2016 American Academy of Dermatology’s acne management treatment guidelines. Clinicians need to think outside the box and consider a combination of treatments, and they should not underestimate the potential role of oral contraceptives as part of an acne treatment plan, she added.

“As a specialty, we need to learn how to really clear acne,” she said in a video interview. “People don’t want to be 50% better, they want to be clear.”

Dr. Harper disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, Bayer, Galderma, La Roche-Posay, Promius, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

LAS VEGAS – Patients with acne don’t want to be better, they want to be clear, Julie Harper, MD, said at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar.

Even one lesion on the face can ruin someone’s day, said Dr. Harper, a dermatologist in private practice in Birmingham, Ala., and an author of the 2016 American Academy of Dermatology’s acne management treatment guidelines. Clinicians need to think outside the box and consider a combination of treatments, and they should not underestimate the potential role of oral contraceptives as part of an acne treatment plan, she added.

“As a specialty, we need to learn how to really clear acne,” she said in a video interview. “People don’t want to be 50% better, they want to be clear.”

Dr. Harper disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, Bayer, Galderma, La Roche-Posay, Promius, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

LAS VEGAS – Patients with acne don’t want to be better, they want to be clear, Julie Harper, MD, said at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar.

Even one lesion on the face can ruin someone’s day, said Dr. Harper, a dermatologist in private practice in Birmingham, Ala., and an author of the 2016 American Academy of Dermatology’s acne management treatment guidelines. Clinicians need to think outside the box and consider a combination of treatments, and they should not underestimate the potential role of oral contraceptives as part of an acne treatment plan, she added.

“As a specialty, we need to learn how to really clear acne,” she said in a video interview. “People don’t want to be 50% better, they want to be clear.”

Dr. Harper disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, Bayer, Galderma, La Roche-Posay, Promius, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

LAS VEGAS – Clinicians are starting to see and treat rosacea differently, Julie Harper, MD, said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar.

“For a long time, we thought about putting rosacea patients into buckets,” based on the predominant type of rosacea they had, such as papulopustular, ocular, or erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, but “what we find is that people have pieces and parts of all of those,” she commented.

In the interview, Dr. Harper, a dermatologist in private practice in Birmingham, Ala., emphasized the importance of directing treatment to all aspects of an individual patient’s rosacea, using combinations of treatments that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, “or at least proven to be effective for these different parts” of the disease. “That’s something that’s really new in our thinking,” she said.

Dr. Harper disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, Bayer, Galderma, La Roche-Posay, Promius, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

LAS VEGAS – Clinicians are starting to see and treat rosacea differently, Julie Harper, MD, said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar.

“For a long time, we thought about putting rosacea patients into buckets,” based on the predominant type of rosacea they had, such as papulopustular, ocular, or erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, but “what we find is that people have pieces and parts of all of those,” she commented.

In the interview, Dr. Harper, a dermatologist in private practice in Birmingham, Ala., emphasized the importance of directing treatment to all aspects of an individual patient’s rosacea, using combinations of treatments that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, “or at least proven to be effective for these different parts” of the disease. “That’s something that’s really new in our thinking,” she said.

Dr. Harper disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, Bayer, Galderma, La Roche-Posay, Promius, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

LAS VEGAS – Clinicians are starting to see and treat rosacea differently, Julie Harper, MD, said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar.

“For a long time, we thought about putting rosacea patients into buckets,” based on the predominant type of rosacea they had, such as papulopustular, ocular, or erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, but “what we find is that people have pieces and parts of all of those,” she commented.

In the interview, Dr. Harper, a dermatologist in private practice in Birmingham, Ala., emphasized the importance of directing treatment to all aspects of an individual patient’s rosacea, using combinations of treatments that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, “or at least proven to be effective for these different parts” of the disease. “That’s something that’s really new in our thinking,” she said.

Dr. Harper disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, Bayer, Galderma, La Roche-Posay, Promius, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

LAS VEGAS – “It’s an exciting time in the treatment of acne,” Linda F. Stein Gold, MD, said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas dermatology seminar.

In the interview, Dr. Stein Gold, director of dermatology research at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, discussed several new developments in the field of acne, including a once-daily oral antibiotic, sarecycline, and topical minocycline drugs in different stages in the research pipeline.

Scarring can occur with any degree of acne severity, but new data suggest that patients struggling with scars may benefit from a fixed combination of adapalene gel 0.3% and benzoyl peroxide gel 2.5%, Dr. Stein Gold noted.

She disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, Anacor, Celgene, Dermira, Foamix, Galderma, LEO, Medimetriks, Novan, Novartis, Promius, Sol-gel, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

dermnews@frontlinemedcom.com

LAS VEGAS – “It’s an exciting time in the treatment of acne,” Linda F. Stein Gold, MD, said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas dermatology seminar.

In the interview, Dr. Stein Gold, director of dermatology research at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, discussed several new developments in the field of acne, including a once-daily oral antibiotic, sarecycline, and topical minocycline drugs in different stages in the research pipeline.

Scarring can occur with any degree of acne severity, but new data suggest that patients struggling with scars may benefit from a fixed combination of adapalene gel 0.3% and benzoyl peroxide gel 2.5%, Dr. Stein Gold noted.

She disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, Anacor, Celgene, Dermira, Foamix, Galderma, LEO, Medimetriks, Novan, Novartis, Promius, Sol-gel, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

dermnews@frontlinemedcom.com

LAS VEGAS – “It’s an exciting time in the treatment of acne,” Linda F. Stein Gold, MD, said in a video interview at Skin Disease Education Foundation’s annual Las Vegas dermatology seminar.

In the interview, Dr. Stein Gold, director of dermatology research at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, discussed several new developments in the field of acne, including a once-daily oral antibiotic, sarecycline, and topical minocycline drugs in different stages in the research pipeline.

Scarring can occur with any degree of acne severity, but new data suggest that patients struggling with scars may benefit from a fixed combination of adapalene gel 0.3% and benzoyl peroxide gel 2.5%, Dr. Stein Gold noted.

She disclosed relationships with multiple companies including Allergan, Anacor, Celgene, Dermira, Foamix, Galderma, LEO, Medimetriks, Novan, Novartis, Promius, Sol-gel, and Valeant.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

dermnews@frontlinemedcom.com