IAS 2018

Advances in understanding psoriasis pathophysiology have led to a variety of anti-psoriatic therapies, including small molecules and biologic agents. Current and emerging biologic agents may confer improved disease management as well as the potential to reduce associated comorbidities, such as psoriatic arthritis, compared with traditional systemic treatments. Thus, the need to define treatment goals and measure treatment outcomes by means of parameters of clinical severity and quality of life has intensified.

This session will focus on the underlying immunologic interaction and signaling mechanisms in psoriatic diseases as a foundation for the latest targeted treatments, such as mechanisms underlying itch, the role of inflammation in psoriatic and cardiovascular disease, and the mechanisms by which some targeted agents provide more rapid responses and improved patient outcomes. Factors such as quality of life and self-perception that can help clinicians differentiate among available treatment options will be explored. Lastly, key learnings will be applied by integrating individual patient needs, existing comorbidities, patient preferences, and available targeted and biologic agents into individualized treatment plans.