Link between autoimmune disorders and psychosis confirmed in new study

TheConversation: People with autoimmune disorders, a collection of diseases where the body’s immune system attacks its own cells, are more likely to have psychosis, according to our latest research. Previous research found that rates of rheumatoid arthritis were lower in people with psychosis than would be expected in the general population. But later studies showed that other autoimmune disorders, such as coeliac disease and autoimmune thyroid disorders, were more common in people with psychosis. This led scientists to the view that there is a connection between autoimmune disorders and psychosis. But conflicting findings meant that it was difficult to reach any conclusions about the relationship.

Autoimmune disease may be linked to heightened dementia risk

BMJ: Autoimmune disease may be linked to a heightened risk of dementia, indicates a large long term study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Although significant, the extent of the association found was small, caution the researchers. But the findings are consistent with the theory that Alzheimer’s disease may have an autoimmune component, they point out. It has been suggested that autoimmune and inflammatory activity may have a role in the development of dementia. In a bid to try and quantify this further, the researchers drew on hospital admissions data, including day cases, from 1998 to 2012 for England.

FDA approves new psoriasis drug

FDA: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Siliq (brodalumab) to treat adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Siliq is administered as an injection. Siliq is intended for patients who are candidates for systemic therapy (treatment using substances that travel through the bloodstream, after being taken by mouth or injected) or phototherapy (ultraviolet light treatment) and have failed to respond, or have stopped responding to other systemic therapies.

New drug can clear all psoriasis symptoms

Manchester: A University of Manchester led trial of a new psoriasis drug has resulted in 40 percent of people showing a complete clearance of psoriatic plaques after 12 weeks of treatment and over 90 percent showing improvement. The research tested 2,500 people with psoriasis.  Half were given a new drug – ixekizumab – either once every two or four weeks. The other half were given a placebo or a widely used drug for psoriasis called etanercept. The ixekizumab groups showed quick and extensive improvements in their condition, outperforming the groups on placebo or etanercept.  Around half of these patients showed improvement as early as week four of the trial and up to 71% had shown a high level of improvement, as measured using a scale called the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, by week 12.

FDA approves new psoriasis drug Cosentyx

FDA. US: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Cosentyx (secukinumab) to treat adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Psoriasis

Author: Dr Jack Resneck Jr University of California San Francisco 2009-10-16

Psoriasis: A Common, Chronic Skin Disease with Many Distinctive Clinical Forms
Introduction

Psoriasis is a common, chronic skin disorder present in about 2-3% of the world’s population.  The most typical form is characterized by round, red skin lesions covered by silvery white scales, most commonly occurring on the knees, elbows, and scalp.  There are many distinctive clinical forms of psoriasis, and the severity of the disease varies greatly from patient to patient.  The course is usually chronic, with intermittent remissions.  Descriptions of patients with psoriasis date back over 2,400 years, at which time the disease was confused with leprosy.   Psoriasis is rarely life-threatening, but can profoundly impair the quality of life of affected patients.