Help.  I posted my first comment on a thread, but found a few mistakes that I need to correct.  How can I edit a post after it has already been posted?  Thanks.

Ilumya (tildrakizumab-asmn) has been given U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of adults with moderate-to severe plaque psoriasis.

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Sun Pharma today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ILUMYA (tildrakizumab-asmn) for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

ILUMYA selectively binds to the p19 subunit of IL-23 and inhibits its interaction with the IL-23 receptor leading to inhibition of the release of pro innflammatory cytokines and chemokines. ILUMYA is administered at a dose of 100 mg by subcutaneous injection every 12 weeks, after the completion of initial doses at weeks 0 and 4. ILUMYA is contraindicated in patients with a previous serious hypersensitivity reaction to tildrakizumab or to any of the excipients.

The FDA approval of ILUMYA for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis was supported by data from the pivotal Phase-3 reSURFACE clinical development program. In the two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2), 926 adult patients were treated with ILUMYA (N=616) or placebo (N=310). Both Phase-3 studies met the primary efficacy endpoints, demonstrating significant clinical improvement with ILUMYA 100 mg compared to placebo when measured by at least 75 percent of skin clearance (Psoriasis Area Sensitivity Index or PASI 75) and Physician’s Global Assessment (PGA) score of “clear” or “minimal” at week 12 after two doses.

Of the patients in the reSURFACE 1 study 74 percent (229 patients) achieved 75 percent skin clearance at week 28 after three doses, and 84 percent of patients who continued receiving ILUMYA 100 mg maintained PASI 75 at week 64 compared to 22 percent of patients who were re-randomized to placebo. In addition, 69 percent of the patients receiving ILUMYA 100 mg who had a PGA score of “clear” or “minimal” at week 28 maintained this response at week 64 compared to 14 percent of patients who were re-randomized to placebo.

Has anyone here gotten worse on biologics?  I just started cimzia about a month ago and I feel like things are getting worse.  Is this common?

This is a study of the first-in-man intravenous implantation of stromal vascular fraction in a patient with severe psoriasis.

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Background:
Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is a mixture of adipose-derived stem cells/mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial/progenitors, pericytes, fibroblasts, and other cells obtained from fat tissue. A small sample of fat or adipose tissue can be obtained under local anesthesia using a cannula. After an enzymatic digestion and centrifugation, the adipocytes (fat cells) are removed to obtain an SVF. Here, we describe the rationale and, to our knowledge, the first clinical implementation of SVF intravenously in a patient with severe psoriasis.

Methods:
Adipose tissue (60 mL) was collected under local anesthesia via a mini-lipoaspirate procedure. The SVF was separated from the adipocytes via centrifugation after an enzymatic digestion. The cells were resuspended in normal saline and injected via bolus push intravenous. The subject was monitored over a period of 12 months for safety (adverse events), medication changes, and quality of life parameters.

Results:
The patient did not report any safety concerns and did not experience any severe adverse events. The patient demonstrated a significant decrease in symptoms with a noticeable difference in skin quality appearance. Psoriasis area and severity index score went from 50.4 at baseline to 0.3 at 1 month follow-up.

Conclusion:
Overall, the patient reported improved quality of life and willingness to continue treatments. This successful initial case study demonstrates that this may be a feasible treatment plan for patients suffering from psoriasis.

Lupin Pharmaceuticals announced that it has received final approval for its Desoximetasone Topical Spray, 0.25%, 30 ml, 50 ml, and 100 ml from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market a generic version of Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A Inc.’s Topicort Topical Spray, 0.25%.

Lupin’s Desoximetasone Topical Spray, 0.25%, 30 ml, 50 ml, and 100 ml is the generic equivalent of Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A Inc.’s Topicort Topical Spray, 0.25%. It is a corticosteroid indicated for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in patients 18 years of age or older.

Patients using topical corticosteroids should receive the following information and instructions:

1.This medication is to be used as directed by the physician. It is for external use only. Avoid contact with the eyes.
2. Patients should be advised not to use this medication for any disorder other than that for which it was prescribed.
3. The treated skin area should not be bandaged or otherwise covered or wrapped so as to be occlusive unless directed by the physician.
4. Patients should report any signs of local adverse reactions, especially under occlusive  dressings.
5. Other corticosteroid containing products should not be used with desoximetasone cream 0.25% without first consulting with the physician.

As with other corticosteroids, Therapy should be discontinued when control is achieved. If no  improvement is seen within 4 weeks, contact the physician.

Hi. I am Duncan. I live in the Uk and have had Psoriasis for 8 years.
It started after taking a drug to stop smoking. My sister took the same drug and shed a full body of skin. The drug was shampix. My wife is a midwife and though asking people, found a definite link to both.
I started with one small patch on my arm. I now have patches everywhere. I had a large burn scar on my calf which it loves.
I tried all the creams with minimal success, I was then put on light treatment. It did just start working as treatment ended. You are only allowed so many treatments, even though the exposure was low due to me burning.
I was then offered the drug, but I am leaving that as the last resort. Side effects of drugs aren't good with me.
I am using Enstilar spray, as it absorbs easy. I find it less greasy than Dovobet. I also use Dipsalic as an alternative. They all contain betamethasone.
Everywhere I read, they say don't use Dovobet long temp. My dermatologist isn't bothered.
My hands and feet over the past year have got quite bad. My knuckles look like boxers.
My scalp comes and goes. Not too bad.
I am also using moisturiser on my hands. I use dermal 500 to wash in shower with.
Are there any other things I could try. I keep reading about coconut oil?
DO they sell light treatment machines for hands only?
Thanks Duncan

Hey all, 

thanks so much for supporting me and following me through this hell I've been going through with the severe flare-up of my plaques and the edema. I'm on my sixth day of a gigantic predinisone burst and it's helping very much to clear up the immediate problem, although i am having about every side effect in the world (retaining enough water for a third-world country, insomnia, etc.) 

I had gotten a call from the local referral center Monday morning around 9, and I had phoned my PCP around 820 before work to inform him of the issue and ask for a topical steroid that my insurance would cover (and perhaps a diuretic). The referral center told me even with an urgent referral, the doctor they were going to call my PCP to get me scheduled with wasn't seeing anyone til June. Great, i thought... i'll finish this awful round of sugar-raising, dehydrating prednisone and by the time the appointment happens, it may start flaring up again and i'll be back in misery, hopefully not in the ER getting put back on 47 prednisones in 10 days! 

yesterday, i got home and I had a letter from my PCP's office. Two days after I called them, they had sent this letter and it already reached me. Rheumatology referral made and appointment scheduled for... wait for it... March 28!! that's less than 2 weeks from now... and i told my boss, she's been watching me struggle with the prednisone dose and everything so she completely understands i have to go. it's still going to possibly upset the company owners, but they can't deny the referral order. SO RELIEVED!!! 

i also talked to a coworker and she told me that asparagus is a natural diuretic, and a local store has it on sale for $.98/lb, so I'm going to be buying myself a big bunch of asparagus to roast and eat the next few days. i literally drink nothing but water all day long but only go to the bathroom a couple of times... i have moon face, i hate the side fx but i have to say it did help with the immediate issue in a huge way. sooooo glad i'm going to rheumatology in 14 days!!!!

This study looked at the current state of pharmaceutical care of Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) patients in Germany.

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Background:
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory joint disease. Despite numerous health care research studies, there is hardly any data regarding the current state of pharmaceutical care of PsA patients in Germany.

Study population and methods:
Based on a systematic literature search and routine administrative data from the Rhineland/Hamburg (statutory) health insurance fund (“Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse“, AOK), the present study provides an up-to-date overview of pharmaceutical care of German PsA patients. Selected were those in- and outpatients who – in the first or second quarter of 2014 – had been coded as having the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (L40.5+) according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10-GM version 2015). On the basis of this “predefined cohort”, drug prescription data was subsequently analyzed for a five-year period (January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014).

Results:
Overall, 3,205 AOK-insured individuals (45 % male, 55 % female) were diagnosed with PsA. Mean age was 58.9 years; 53.7 % of PsA patients received systemic treatment. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the most frequently prescribed agents, followed by corticosteroids. Among patients on systemic treatment, 72.1 % were treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs); 20.9 % with a combination of DMARDs and biologics.

Conclusion:
Not only does pharmacological treatment of PsA have to ensure adequate patient care aimed at preventing disease progression, it also has to be approached with economic responsibility.

Hi all, 

So I went to see my Derm today as my P has been flaring up again. 

I've been on acitretin (35mg daily) for the past 4-5 months which did an ok job at clearing (despite taking a good 2 months to clear). Anyway, it started to fizzle out and I had to use creams to keep my P at bay, which, is fine when using the creams but as soon as I stopped it would come straight back. 

So after reading many positive reviews on here, I have decided I want to make the switch to Fumaderm/Skilarence. I recommended this to my derm who also gave it glowing reviews (well Fumaderm, he wasn't actually aware of Skilarence). However, as I go private he said that Skilarence/Fumaderm is ridiculously expensive to be paying myself and would be in the thousands of pounds a year region. He said the best way would be to see a GP and get a referral (ideally to St Guy's) and get the prescription through the NHS. In the meantime, I'm bumping my acitretin dose to 50mg daily to see if that helps at all. 

The problem is, I am not actually registered with a GP. To save myself the hassle of booking more time off work, registering with a GP, booking an appointment etc etc...which would take weeks, I am considering using an online GP to get the referral. 

My question is, has anyone on here from the UK ever had experience with using an online GP for psoriasis?

Greetings from New Jersey - land of extortionate property taxes and horrific commutes.     

     I have been taking Cosentyx for five months.  

     In that time I am constantly exhausted, and have cold symptoms including sore throat, nasal congestion, headaches,  and fatigue.  

     Is anyone else out there having these issues, and, if so (and more importantly!)  how do you deal with them?  My MD told me I just have to get used to it and deal with it.  I would like to know if anyone has found a way to deal with these issues. 

     Thanking you in advance, 

            -Vicki

Hi all, 

I'm a 36-year-old type 1 diabetic who was diagnosed with psoriasis in my late 20s, I want to say by 2008 or 2009 I for sure had it, because I had my son in 2010 and I had it then. But that was actually before I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. After I had my son, my pancreas just stopping working and my psoriasis got worse. It started on my legs, then I had it on my scalp. Since then I've had it on my elbows and in and around my belly button. Not good, but manageable, somewhat. 

Over the years I've noticed it pretty much was in the same spots, and at times it would get better, but the past month or six weeks, it's grown. Drastically. It's now on my forearms, ribcage, lower back, upper right shoulder and one spot on my upper thigh. I can't wear anything but long-sleeved shirts because it is so hideous. My child leaves the room when I change clothes and not because he's giving me privacy--because it's so awful to look at. I would say it's doubled in the areas its affecting at least. 

The worst part is, I just started a new job and I have no PTO. Despite that, I had to stay home for two days with my son who had the flu and I had to take off a half-day Monday to let AT&T into my house to connect my wifi as I just moved. Monday afternoon, the company owners called me in and said I was pushing it. I had planned to tell them I needed to see a doctor asap, but after learning my job was on the line, I didn't. 

I've done some research and from what I can tell, it sounds like I need to just go to the ER. I can't do that until Friday, because I HAVE to be at work 830-430 and I'm a single mom. My kid goes to his dad's house Friday nights so I'm going to make an ER visit Friday after work. 

No dermatologist, PCP, minor med or nurse practitioner has ever given me anything but Prednizone, topical creams and at my last visit, when I showed them this worsening breakout, they just gave me hydroxyzine for the itching. but the itching is not the worst of it. It's the pain. It's dry and cracking open on my inner elbows, and simply stretching my arms causes me pain. I can't wear anything but soft cotton clothes, and it's becoming difficult to find something different every day. No one has ever tried an oral medication or an injection. They simply under-treat it. 

I don't have a lot of money to try home remedies unless someone can suggest something that actually works. I'm afraid this breakout will never go away, and I can't live with it. I do the epsom salt baths. they seem to be drying it out more and making it more painful.

I would like to know if anyone has used a really good cream?
I have used lots in the past such as coal tar based,aqueous, e45 etc!probably most of them.
I am new on here and this may of been discussed before.thanks

Hello

Hi

I have been suffering from severe plaque Psoriasis and moderate Psoriasis Arthritis since 2004. After suffering through all kinds of treatments and few hospital stays in Germany (topical, various types of UVB and PUVA, Cyclosporine, methotrexate) by all kinds of dermatologists, finally a dermatologist prescribed Stelara in 2012 and I have been clear since then. I moved to Ireland from Germany in 2015 and the new Irish dermatologist continued the prescription based on the letter from my German dermatologist.

Now, I am likely to get a job in the UK and might move there. Can someone knowledgeable about the UK system help me understand how easy it is to get it prescribed in the UK? Do have to bring in my entire medical history from Germany and Ireland or is a letter from my current Irish dermatologist and the previous letter to him from the German dermatologist suffice? I may not have any private health insurance in the UK and would have to rely on the state system.

Hi everyone, I had answered another thread but Jim encouraged me to start a new thread about my journey with Taltz. I’ve suffered from psoriasis for at least the past 20;years - it could be quite mild at times but then would come back with a vengeance. I used to cover my legs and arms in makeup and would cry in embarrassment when going to the hairdresser.

I tried every topical treatment but relief was so temporary. Phototherapy also provided some short-term relief but I felt I was going to be saddled with this for the rest of my life.

I had been wary of some of the biologic treatments because of the side effects, but I was getting desperate.Then I happened to see a TV ad for Taltz and asked my dermatologist about it. He said it was clearly the most exciting new treatment he has seen - with very little risk - so he signed me on for a clinical trial.

I started Taltz last May, and I haven’t looked back since! As I outlined in another thread, those first two injections were torture - I had received some very perfunctory instructions, but then the technician was watching me so I quickly decided that the upper thigh would be the most discreet place while being observed. OUCH! The first one hurt like hell but I had to steel myself to just get through the second one.

Since then I have had the regular doses sent to my home and I have no problem administering it myself. Through trial and error I have found that the best place to inject is my lower belly a few inches from my belly button. Very little reaction and the sting lasts less than a minute.

With Taltz, I became 100% clear within three months. I am now almost 9 months into treatment with a dose once a month, and remain clear. 

I can’t tell you how much of a new lease on life this has given me. For someone who wore long skirts and 3/4 length sleeves just one year ago on a visit to Florida, during this most recent trip I proudly wore shorts and sleeveless tops!  This summer will ROCK!

I wish everyone the best in your own personal journey with this awful disease - I am thrilled to share that my experience with Taltz has been nothing short of a miracle LOL ? 

  Sheryl

Hi everyone, 
I want to get a tattoo related to psoriasis. I know it might affect my skin but i really want to. Is there an international official symbol of psoriasis? As fas as i know the orange-orchid ribbon isn't official.
Have any ideas? 
Thank you.

Hi everyone. Last Summer was when I noticed something wrong with my skin. The Dr. at that time said I had Ringworm. So for months, we were treating it like it was fungal. It only got worse. I finally went back to the Dermatologist and he said it was not fungal and that it was Psoriasis. I noticed my osteoarthritis flaring up as well. He told me it was due to psoriasis.   I have what looks like ringworm on steroids on my scalp, ear canals, around my waist, my down under parts and legs. He sent me in for a blood test. Come to find out I have latent TB! Ugh! The medications for both conditions are very powerful and take a toll on your body. I am not sure I want to do any of it. Thank you for reading this and any advice is very welcome.

Didnt realise that its been over 3 years since I visited here. The last time I was trying fumerderm. It didnt work for me. Tried Humira, then enbrel. Both with some success. Switched to Stelera and have been almost psoriasis free since that time.
Been overweight all my life and last May I underwent a gastric bypass operation. Had to stop the Stelera for a while, but only suffered a small outbreak. Since then have a couple of tiny patches. Unfortunately one is on my face. Gone from over 16 stone to under 12. Going on holiday in june and I have bought myself a bikini. Never worn a bikini in my life before. With the psoriasis clearance and weight lose my body image confidence has soared. First time in my life I can look in the mirror and like what I see. I look fab and dont care what anyone else thinks.
BTW..... getting this fab feeling also included almost 2 years of intense therapy to deal with my demons of my past.

This study suggests biomarkers are better at detecting psoriatic arthritis than C-reactive protein (CRP) levels alone.

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Objective:
There is a high prevalence of undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients with psoriasis. Identifying soluble biomarkers for PsA will help in screening psoriasis patients for appropriate rheumatology referral. We therefore aimed to investigate whether serum levels of novel markers previously discovered by quantitative mass spectrometric analysis of synovial fluid and skin biopsies performs better than the C-reactive protein (CRP) level in differentiating PsA patients from those with psoriasis without PsA (PsC).

Methods:
In this case–control study, serum samples were obtained from 100 subjects with PsA, 100 with PsC, and 100 healthy controls. Patients with PsA and PsC were group matched for age, sex, psoriasis duration, and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and were not currently receiving biologic treatment. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, 4 high-priority markers (Mac-2-binding protein [M2BP], CD5-like protein [CD5L], myeloperoxidase [MPO], and integrin β5 [ITGβ5]), as well as previously established markers (matrix metalloproteinase 3 [MMP-3] and CRP level) were assayed. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted.

Results:
In comparisons to controls, CD5L, ITGβ5, M2BP, MPO, MMP-3, and CRP level were independently associated with PsA, while only CD5L, M2BP, and MPO were independently associated with PsC alone. In comparisons to PsC, ITGβ5, M2BP, and CRP level were independently associated with PsA. ROC analysis of this model shows an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.80–0.90). The model that included CRP level alone had an AUC of 0.71 (95% CI 0.64–0.78).

Conclusion:
CD5L, ITGβ5, M2BP, MPO, MMP-3, and CRP level are markers for PsA. The combination of ITGβ5, M2BP, and CRP level differentiates PsA from PsC, and performs better than CRP level alone.

(Sun-25-02-2018, 20:35 PM)Fred Wrote:

(Sun-25-02-2018, 19:48 PM)D Foster Wrote:

(Sun-25-02-2018, 15:15 PM)Fred Wrote:

(Sun-25-02-2018, 09:33 AM)ajack Wrote: I was also told that raw eggs and raw fish is off the menu.

I'm not sure who told you that but they are wrong. There is no reason to avoid any foods or drinks with Stelara or any Bio as far as I know.

I was told that anything that held bugs such as pate,as you said raw eggs etc and to be very careful with things like bean sprouts which can contain salmonella. I was also told when I was on MTX to avoid anything that could contain bugs as with all these kind of treatments your immune system is very low so anything nasty can really be a big problem.

I don't want to derail Artemies thread, but I would like to know of any evidence about avoiding any foods whilst on a Bio. So if anyone does have evidence please PM me as I would like to read up on it and publish the findings in a new thread.