Pediatric psoriasis: an update

Pediatric psoriasis consists broadly of 3 age groups of psoriatic patients: infantile psoriasis, a self-limited disease of infancy, psoriasis with early onset, and pediatric psoriasis with psoriatic arthritis. About one-quarter of psoriasis cases begin before the age of 18 years. A variety of clinical psoriasis types are seen in childhood, including plaque-type, guttate, erythrodermic, napkin, and nail-based disease. Like all forms of auto-immunity, susceptibility is likely genetic, but environmental triggers are required to initiate disease activity. The most common trigger of childhood is an upper respiratory tract infection. Once disease has occurred, treatment is determined based on severity and presence of joint involvement. Topical therapies, including corticosteroids and calcipotriene, are the therapies of choice in the initial care of pediatric patients. Ultraviolet light, acitretin and cyclosporine can clear skin symptoms, while methotrexate and etanercept can clear both cutaneous and joint disease. Concern for psychological development is required when choosing psoriatic therapies. This article reviews current concepts in pediatric psoriasis and a rational approach to therapeutics

Genome-wide association studies of autoimmune vitiligo identify 23 new risk loci and highlight key pathways and regulatory variants

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease in which depigmented skin results from the destruction of melanocytes1, with epidemiological association with other autoimmune diseases2. In previous linkage and genome-wide association studies (GWAS1 and GWAS2), we identified 27 vitiligo susceptibility loci in patients of European ancestry. We carried out a third GWAS (GWAS3) in European-ancestry subjects, with augmented GWAS1 and GWAS2 controls, genome-wide imputation, and meta-analysis of all three GWAS, followed by an independent replication. The combined analyses, with 4,680 cases and 39,586 controls, identified 23 new significantly associated loci and 7 suggestive loci. Most encode immune and apoptotic regulators, with some also associated with other autoimmune diseases, as well as several melanocyte regulators. Bioinformatic analyses indicate a predominance of causal regulatory variation, some of which corresponds to expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) at these loci. Together, the identified genes provide a framework for the genetic architecture and pathobiology of vitiligo, highlight relationships with other autoimmune diseases and melanoma, and offer potential targets for treatment

The Effect of Isotretinoin on Vitiligo and Autoimmune Comorbidity

Several case reports have noted development of vitiligo as a potential side-effect of isotretinoin. In an IRB approved on-line survey of vitiligo patients we queried 1,301 vitiligo patients, 1115 with generalized vitiligo responding as to whether they had taken isotretinoin to address whether this issue was a common phenomenon amongst vitiligo patients. 3.6% of respondents had taken isotretinoin, 1.4% (n=16) before onset of vitiligo, and 2.2% (n=24) after onset of vitiligo. When compared with age-matched vitiligo peers who had not taken isotretinoin before onset of vitiligo (n=64) , isotretinoin use prior to onset of vitiligo was associated with: decreased disease body surface area (conditional logistic regression: OR of BSA≥50% (95% CI)=0.12 (0.03–0.57), P=0.007); decreased odds of body and face involvement when compared with either body or face alone (OR (95% CI)=0.20 (0.06–0.73), P=0.02); and decreased co-morbid autoimmunity (OR (95% CI)=0.17 (0.04–0.58), P=0.01). The volume of isotretinoin usage in vitiligo patients is additionally suggestive of a link between cystic acne and vitiligo. J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(6): doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.4938

Association of Childhood Atopic Dermatitis With Atopic and Nonatopic Multimorbidity

Background Little is known about the impact of multimorbidity in childhood atopic dermatitis (AD). Objective We sought to determine the likelihood and predictors of chronic disease multimorbidity in childhood AD. Methods Data were examined for children (\u3c18 years) in the 1996-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, an annual, representative sample of United States households. Multimorbidity was assessed using Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Healthcare Utilization Project Chronic Comorbidity Indicator (HCUP-CCI) and frequency of atopic comorbidities. Results Young children with mild-moderate and severe AD, and adolescents with mild-moderate AD had higher CCI scores. Similarly, young children and adolescents with mild-moderate and severe AD had increased HCUP-CCI scores. Children with AD and atopic disease had higher CCI and HCUP-CCI scores than children with either alone. Young children and adolescents with mild-moderate and severe AD had more atopic comorbidities. Conclusions Pediatric AD is associated with increased atopic and non-atopic multimorbidity. Comorbid atopic disease may identify a subset of children with AD who particularly benefit from enhanced screening and management of multimorbidity

Association of Childhood Atopic Dermatitis with Atopic and Nonatopic Multimorbidity

Background Little is known about the impact of multimorbidity in childhood atopic dermatitis (AD). Objective We sought to determine the likelihood and predictors of chronic disease multimorbidity in childhood AD. Methods Data were examined for children (\u3c18 years) in the 1996-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, an annual, representative sample of United States households. Multimorbidity was assessed using Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Healthcare Utilization Project Chronic Comorbidity Indicator (HCUP-CCI) and frequency of atopic comorbidities. Results Young children with mild-moderate and severe AD, and adolescents with mild-moderate AD had higher CCI scores. Similarly, young children and adolescents with mild-moderate and severe AD had increased HCUP-CCI scores. Children with AD and atopic disease had higher CCI and HCUP-CCI scores than children with either alone. Young children and adolescents with mild-moderate and severe AD had more atopic comorbidities. Conclusions Pediatric AD is associated with increased atopic and non-atopic multimorbidity. Comorbid atopic disease may identify a subset of children with AD who particularly benefit from enhanced screening and management of multimorbidity

Diet and atopic dermatitis

Dermatologists and pediatric dermatologists frequently treat patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), and patients and guardians often associate AD with food allergies. A common misconception is that dietary restrictions will resolve the disease. The role of diet is evolving in the discussion of AD. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has recently provided recommendations on diet and therapies for AD. This article reviews recent scientific data on the role of foods and dietary modifications in the management of AD as both an intervention and as prevention