Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Report on the Psycho-Social Impacts of Psoriasis Summary

National Psoriasis Foundation Report on the Psycho-Social Impacts of Psoriasis Summary

This report is the culmination of the largest longitudinal study to date of the psycho-social impacts of psoriasis on individuals.

Over a period of six years, the National Psoriasis Foundation collected responses to questions about the emotional and social effects of psoriatic diseases from nearly 5,000 people with
psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis.

The results of this study highlight sharp differences in the negative impact psoriasis has on various populations including women, minorities and young people. The National Psoriasis Foundation will use this information to design and deliver programs and services that continue to assist these populations in coping with and managing their condition.

Click the link below for the PDF / Report

http://www.psoriasis.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=619

Elorac, Inc. Announces Launch of Novel, Steroid-free, Prescription Cream for Psoriasis

Elorac, Inc. has announced the launch Zithranol™-RR (anthralin rapid release microcrystalline encapsulated cream, 1.2%) for the treatment of mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. Zithranol™-RR is available by prescription in a 45 gram tube

VERNON HILLS, Ill.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Now patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis have a new topical treatment option available by prescription. Zithranol™-RR (anthralin rapid release microcrystalline encapsulated cream, 1.2%), is an innovative topical therapy for plaque psoriasis according to Elorac, Inc., a privately held emerging dermatology company. Zithranol™-RR provides an advanced delivery system for anthralin achieving long remission times with no long-term side effects in a steroid-free, silky cream.

While there is no cure for psoriasis, treatment can clear psoriatic skin for periods of time. Zithranol™-RR contains the active ingredient anthralin which has been shown to clear psoriasis and keep it in remission for long periods of time with only once-a-day application.

“The key to Zithranol™-RR is the advanced delivery system designed to rapidly release anthralin allowing for excellent efficacy with only once daily application,” said Joel Bernstein, MD, a dermatologist and CEO of Elorac. “Zithranol™-RR makes it easy to utilize the known efficacy and safety of anthralin while minimizing the challenges commonly seen with traditional anthralin formulations.”

Zithranol™-RR’s advanced delivery of anthralin is designed to rapidly release anthralin to the psoriatic skin reducing the risk of staining and irritation seen with traditional formulations of anthralin. It is a 1.2% anthralin cream in which the active ingredient is surrounded by a protective layer of lipids. These layers melt at body temperature, releasing the anthralin only on the skin where it is applied, not on clothes, bedding or bathroom fixtures.

The unique, quick delivery of Zithranol™-RR is known as short contact anthralin therapy (S.C.A.T.). “A patient can apply Zithranol™-RR, have breakfast then rinse off the medication with cool or luke-warm water and be done with the treatment for the day,” said Dr. Bernstein.

Additional benefits to Zithranol™-RR include:

Long lasting efficacy with up to 6 months remission times
Convenient once daily, short-contact therapy
Proven safe with no long-term side effects
Rapid release delivery reduces irritation and staining
Zithranol™-RR is available by prescription. There are no branded or generic equivalents for Zithranol™-RR.

For full prescribing information and patient instructions regarding Zithranol™-RR, please visit www.eloracpharma.com.

About Zithranol™-RR’s Advanced Delivery of Anthralin

Zithranol™-RR contains 1.2% microcrystalline encapsulated anthralin in a green, aqueous cream. The anthralin in Zithranol™-RR is microencapsulated into a proprietary formulation of surface active crystalline polar lipids to provide for rapid release, as well as to reduce irritation and staining frequently observed with nonencapsulated anthralin preparations. Since Zithranol™-RR’s advanced delivery system rapidly releases anthralin into psoriatic plaques on contact with skin, Zithranol™-RR is especially useful for short contact (5-15 minutes) therapy with anthralin. Zithranol™-RR contains no preservatives.

About Elorac

Elorac, Inc. is a privately held pipeline and marketing pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel products for the management of skin disorders. Elorac owns or licenses the rights to over 20 novel treatments for various cutaneous diseases. The company is poised to launch unique prescription products representing potentially significant improvement over current therapies focusing exclusively on the management of skin disease.

About Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a non-contagious, chronic skin disease that affects between 5.8 and 7.5 million Americans according the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It usually appears as thick, red, scaly patches created by a rapid overgrowth of skin cells.

Contacts

Elorac, Inc.
Christopher Gabanski, 847-362-8200 ext. 238
Vice President Sales & Marketing
cgabanski@eloracpharma.com
www.eloracpharma.com

Permalink: http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20090827005683/en

Diagnosing psoriatic arthritis: tests to confirm the diagnosis

Psoriatic arthritis
Diagnosing psoriatic arthritis: tests to confirm the diagnosis

A person with joint aches and pains should talk to a doctor about diagnosis and treatment. Primary-care doctors or dermatologists can treat psoriatic arthritis, but psoriatic arthritis patients should consider seeing a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in arthritis.

There is no definitive test for psoriatic arthritis. The diagnosis is made mostly on a clinical basis and by a process of elimination. Medical history, physical examination, blood tests, MRIs and X-rays of the joints that have symptoms may be used to diagnose psoriatic arthritis. It is important to communicate your history of psoriasis to your doctor.

The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are similar to those of three other arthritic diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, gout and reactive arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis generally involves joints symmetrically distributed on both sides of the body, and it may produce bumps under the skin that are not present in psoriatic arthritis. However, some forms of psoriatic arthritis look very similar. The simultaneous presence of psoriasis on the skin and nail changes supports a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.

A certain antibody, called a rheumatoid factor, is normally present in rheumatoid arthritis. The rheumatoid factor is not usually found in the blood of psoriatic arthritis patients. A blood test for that antibody may help distinguish between the two diseases. A person can have rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, but that is rare. Many of the treatments for psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis overlap.

Likewise, it is possible to have gout along with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. If you have an excruciatingly painful attack in a joint, particularly in the big toe, you may want to have a test for gout. Fluid drawn from the affected joint is examined to resolve the diagnosis of gout or psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis patients are commonly misdiagnosed as having gout, because they often have elevated serum uric acid levels, which also can be caused by taking low-dose aspirin or by increased skin cell turnover. It is important to distinguish between the two forms of arthritis, because they may be treated with different medications.

In the very early stages of the disease, X-rays usually do not reveal signs of arthritis and may not help in making a diagnosis. In the later stages, X-rays may show changes that are characteristic of psoriatic arthritis but not found with other types of arthritis, such as the "pencil in cup" phenomenon where the end of the bone gets whittled down to a sharp point. Changes in the peripheral joints and in the spine support the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. However, most of the changes occur in the later stages of the disease.

Frequently asked questions about psoriatic arthritis

Frequently asked questions about psoriatic arthritis

What is psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis [pronounced sore-ee-AA-tic] causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints and places where tendons and ligaments connect to bone. Without treatment, psoriatic arthritis can potentially be disabling.

What causes psoriatic arthritis?

Both genetic and environmental factors seem to be associated with the development of psoriatic arthritis. The immune system plays an important role. Psoriatic arthritis is linked to psoriasis on the skin; in 85 percent of individuals, skin disease preceded joint disease.

What are the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis?

Tender swollen joints
Swollen and tender entheses (where a muscle or ligament attaches to a bone)
Back pain
Nail changes—for example, a nail that separates from the nail bed and/or becomes pitted and mimics fungal infections
Morning stiffness and tiredness
Generalized fatigue
A reduced range of motion
Redness and pain of the tissues surrounding the eyes, such as conjunctivitis
How is psoriatic arthritis diagnosed?

There is no specific test for psoriatic arthritis. The diagnosis is based mostly on symptoms, examination, X-rays and the elimination of other types of arthritis. If you have psoriasis and experience persistent joint pain, you may have psoriatic arthritis and you should see a rheumatologist. These doctors specialize in arthritis and can provide further evaluation and/or a diagnosis.

Is all psoriatic arthritis the same?

No. There are considered to be five different forms of psoriatic arthritis:

Symmetric: Affects multiple symmetric pairs of joints (occurs in the same joints on both sides of the body).
Oligoarticular: Affects few joints in an asymmetric pattern and is usually milder.
Distal interphalangeal (DIP): Affects primarily the distal joints of the fingers and toes (the joints closest to the nail).
Spondylitis: Predominantly affects the spinal column from the neck to the lower back.
Arthritis mutilans: Affects the small joints of the hands and feet, although it can appear in other joints. This rare form of arthritis is severe and destructive.
What treatments are available for psoriatic arthritis?

Drugs for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis are divided into three main categories:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen as well as prescription products.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may relieve more severe symptoms and attempt to slow or stop joint/tissue damage and the progression of psoriatic arthritis.
Biologics such as adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab are also considered DMARDs. They are highly selective agents that target specific parts of the immune system that cause psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis
Treating psoriatic arthritis

Treatment for psoriatic arthritis can relieve pain, reduce swelling, help keep joints working properly and possibly prevent further joint damage. Doctors will recommend treatments based on the type of psoriatic arthritis, its severity and an individual’s reaction to treatment.

Early diagnosis and treatment can help slow the disease and preserve function and range of motion. Some early indicators of severe disease include onset at a young age, having many joints involved and spinal involvement. Good control of the skin disease may be valuable in the management of psoriatic arthritis. Some treatments are approved to treat both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

"Localized" mild psoriatic arthritis

Generally, localized psoriatic arthritis is mild and affects only one or two joints. A person may experience long periods with no symptoms. Psoriatic arthritis of this nature generally causes less deformity and long-term disability.

"Generalized" disabling psoriatic arthritis

A portion of people who have three or more affected joints may have a higher risk of joint destruction and disability. When it is not relieved by anti-inflammatory drugs, more potent medications may be required. Some cases may require surgery and rehabilitation.