EADV 2023 Psoriasis Symposium Report: Advancing the Science and Management of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
The GRAPPA Psoriasis Symposium 2023, first adjacent to EADV I attended, was placed in Berlin at the Berlin ExpoCenter City on Oct 11th and brought together leading experts in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) to explore the latest advances in research, therapeutics, and patient care. This report summarizes the key takeaways from the diverse and enlightening sessions. This meeting was organized by Dr. April Armstrong (co-president of GRAPPA and Judi Pickell, Executive Director of GRAPPA), and the presenters included Mona Ståhle (Solna Karolinska Institutet), Alexander Egeberg (University of Copenhagen), Matthias Augustin (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf), Joseph Merola (UT Southwestern Medical Center) and Laura Savag (Leeds Centre for Dermatology).
Immunogenetics of Psoriasis: Dr. Mona Ståhle delved into the intricate role of genetics in psoriasis susceptibility and disease progression. She highlighted specific genes and pathways implicated in the pathogenesis, emphasizing the complex interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental triggers. Return of concept of psoriasis linkage to HLA-C*06 (type 1 x 2) was something interesting, especially because of the description of new gene loci, besides PSORS1 (6p21,33) and PSORS2 (17q25.3), there are 9 identified susceptibility loci associated with psoriatic disease, PSORS4 (1q21) was validated.
Efficacy and Safety of Psoriasis Therapies: Dr. Alexander Egeberg presented a data-driven analysis of both real-world and clinical trial evidence on the efficacy and safety of systemic psoriasis therapies. He compared various treatment options, offering valuable insights for optimizing therapy selection and monitoring. One highlight was the arrival of more and more oral medication options, such as the TYK2 inhibitor deucravacitinib and oral peptidesHot Topics in Psoriasis Research: Dr. Matthias Augustin shed light on cutting-edge research areas in health services and health economics related to psoriasis. He discussed factors influencing treatment adherence, economic aspects of disease management, and the ongoing quest for personalized medicine approaches. Challenges on economy wordwide, variation on drug prices and how they can impact on access to therapies were also a subject.
Hot Topics in Psoriasis Research: Dr. Matthias Augustin shed light on cutting-edge research areas in health services and health economics related to psoriasis. He discussed factors influencing treatment adherence, economic aspects of disease management, and the ongoing quest for personalized medicine approaches. Consolidated concepts such as CLCI were shown, their risk factors and their effects, such as factors that lead to adherence to treatment, low education about PsA, psychological stress, cardiovascular events, etc.
PsA Updates: Dr. Joseph Merola provided a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of PsA diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. He highlighted recent advancements in understanding the shared disease mechanisms between psoriasis and PsA, leading to more targeted therapeutic approaches.
Clinical Conundrums and Case Discussions: Dr. Laura Savage shared valuable insights into managing challenging cases in psoriasis. By presenting real-world clinical scenarios and offering evidence-based solutions, she equipped the audience with practical strategies for tackling complex clinical situations.
Y-GRAPPA Initiatives: Dr. Fabian Proft showcased the impactful work of Y-GRAPPA, a program dedicated to fostering the next generation of PsA/PsO researchers. He highlighted various initiatives that provide young investigators with mentorship, research opportunities, and career development support.
Concluding Remarks: Dr. April Armstrong, GRAPPA Co-President, summarized the key takeaways and emphasized the collective responsibility of healthcare professionals, researchers, and patients to advance the understanding and management of psoriasis and PsA. The symposium underscored the critical role of collaboration and ongoing research in improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
Dimitri Luz
Full GRAPPA member
Derm-rheum Y-GRAPPA coleader
