Examining the prior authorization process, patient outcomes, and the impact of a pharmacy intervention: A single-center review.

BACKGROUND: Dermatology experiences a disproportionately high burden of prior authorizations (PAs). OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of a centralized pharmacy intervention on the PA process and the impact of PAs on patient outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of PAs submitted for medications before and after implementation of pharmacy intervention was conducted. RESULTS: PA was required for 8.1% of all prescriptions. PAs were most frequently submitted for topical steroids, topical antibiotics and antifungals, and topical retinoids. Most common indications included acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Biologic agents (55.2%) and brand-name only medications (42.8%) required PA at higher rates. Pharmacy intervention resulted in shorter time to PA submission (4 days vs 1 day, P < .001) and decision (6 days vs 1 day, P < .001) and higher approval rates (63.9% vs 80.6%, P < .001) but did not decrease the total number of PAs. Patients with approved PAs had higher likelihood of disease improvement vs those with denied PAs (71.1% vs 58.0%, P = .013). LIMITATIONS: Data were collected from a single academic institution. Patient medication compliance was not assessed. CONCLUSIONS: The current PA process may result in delays in care and a negative impact on patients. A centralized pharmacy intervention is an effective measure but does not eliminate the overall burden of PAs.

An assessment of current practices in the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa: the rise of biologic therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Treatments for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) have changed in the last decade. In this context, we studied how management practices have shifted. METHODS: We analyzed the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) from 2010 to 2016 to assess current treatment practices for HS. RESULTS: There were 1.78 (95% confidence interval 1.35, 2.22) million visits. Antibiotics were observed at 55.7% of visits and observations remained stable over time (p = .9, odds ratio 0.99 [0.73, 1.3]). Pain medications were observed at 15.5% of visits and observations remained stable over time (p = .4, odds ratio [0.87 [0.61, 1.2]). Biologic agents were observed at 0.9% of visits and observations remained stable over time (p = .4, odds ratio 0.61 [0.21, 1.7]). Systemic immunomodulators were observed at 2.6% of visits and observations remained stable over time (p = .08, odds ratio 0.42 [0.12, 1.1]). 100% of biologic agents and 88% of systemic immunomodulators were prescribed by dermatologists. DISCUSSION: The use of biologic agents did not increase in this interval, but it is higher than in an earlier assessment of the NAMCS. Nearly all systemic immunomodulators are prescribed by dermatologists. The ambulatory uptake of these agents did not alter the use of other treatment modalities within this timeframe.

Treatment of psoriasis in pregnancy.

Many women report improvement in psoriasis during pregnancy; others report that psoriasis becomes worse during pregnancy. Balancing effective management of psoriasis against potential risk in pregnancy is important, especially because the severity of psoriasis can have an impact on the pregnancy experience and possibly the outcome. This article discusses current understanding of pregnancy risk profiles of medications used to treat psoriasis.

Methotrexate shows benefit in a subset of patients with severe hidradenitis suppurativa.

BACKGROUND: Methotrexate is an immunomodulatory therapy that may offer benefit to patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Despite its theoretical advantages, there is a paucity of available data regarding long-term methotrexate use in patients with HS. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess whether methotrexate treatment leads to improvement in HS disease severity. METHODS: We conducted an institutional review board-approved, single-center, retrospective chart review of patients with HS who were treated with methotrexate between 2000 and 2018. Primary outcome measurements included the HS Physician's Global Assessment (HS PGA), Hurley staging, abscess count, fistula count, and inflammatory nodule count. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients were identified; 14 were excluded for reasons including never starting methotrexate and missing follow-up data. For remaining patients (n = 15), the average cumulative dose of methotrexate was 520.1 mg (range, 30-1665 mg) and the average length of treatment was 11.7 months (range, 1-38 months). Patients taking methotrexate as a primary therapy had a higher cumulative dose and length of treatment (520.13 mg; 14.6 months) compared with those taking biologics concomitantly (468.44 mg; 9.1 months). Patients using methotrexate as primary therapy demonstrated nonsignificant reductions in HS PGA, inflammatory nodule count, and abscess count. Patients on concomitant biologic therapy failed to demonstrate any change in HS PGA, inflammatory nodule count, and abscess count. LIMITATIONS: Limitations of the study include its retrospective nature, small sample size, length of time on methotrexate between groups, and homogeneity of the patient population. CONCLUSION: Methotrexate may represent an effective treatment option in older patients with lower body mass indices but fails to offer benefit in patients taking concurrent biologic therapy.

Biologic Treatment for Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are often undertreated and there are limited efficacious therapies available for treating this population. Biologics are an emerging therapeutic modality used in the management of many inflammatory conditions including HS. Implementation of biologics is typically reserved for moderate-to-severe cases or in those cases that are refractory to treatment. Though many biologics have been trialed for use in HS, only one biologic, adalimumab, is currently US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe HS. Limitations in the use of biologics for HS include the many scoring systems utilized in research studies and the relatively few well-designed, adequately powered clinical trials.

Genetic basis for skin youthfulness.

Aging skin is a consequence of both intrinsic factors, including genetics, and extrinsic factors, including environmental exposures such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation and smoking. This contribution focuses on intrinsic factors that promote aging skin. Specifically, in this contribution we review the literature describing how single nucleotide polymorphisms, epigenetic changes, variable gene expression, microRNA, and mitochondrial depletion relate to skin aging. Investigations studying intrinsic factors associated with skin aging are important as they promote a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of aging skin. This contribution also describes potential avenues for future genetic research in skin aging. Molecular mechanisms that may be therapeutically intervened upon are of particular interest given the cultural value placed on youthful appearing skin. Future research efforts will hopefully reveal a means upon which to intercede on the skin aging process.

TNF-α inhibitors in the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a complex disease with a dramatic impact on the quality of life of patients that it afflicts. Despite this, there are few treatment options offering long-term relief. The exact pathophysiology of HS is unclear, although the current theory involves follicular obstruction, rupture, and subsequent inflammation leading to fistula and abscess development in intertriginous skin. Several inflammatory modulators have been implicated in the development of HS, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α as well as interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-10, and IL-17. Initial evidence for the use of TNF-α inhibitors in HS stemmed from recognition that inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with these medications saw a concurrent improvement in their HS symptoms. Early case reports and case series illustrated TNF-α inhibitors' value in the treatment of HS. Later, two phase III clinical trials, PIONEER I and PIONEER II, demonstrated that adalimumab is an efficacious treatment for HS. Infliximab represents another effective HS treatment option with its main advantage being dosing flexibility. In contrast, clinical trials have failed to show evidence for application of etanercept in HS. There is limited data on other TNF-α inhibitors such as certolizumab-pegol and golimumab. This review outlines the history, dosing, response, and adverse effects of TNF-α inhibitors in the treatment of HS.