Supermodel CariDee English talk psoriasis in Canada

America's Next Top Model, CariDee English, is in Canada this week talking about her psoriasis and the challenges it brings. The Toronto Sun (and its smitten reporter) has all the details:

"It's a disease that starts on the inside and just happens to show itself on the skin," says CariDee.

Nicely said.

Enbrel 2x/week dose shown safe for 2 years

Results of a 96-week study of Enbrel (etanercept) showed it was safe and effective for the duration of the study period. Given how long psoriasis patients have to take medications, this is good news. (The FDA typically makes its determination about a psoriasis treatment based on a 12-week period.)

Of course, this cannot answer the 15- or 25-year safety question, which can only come after the treatment has been used for that long.

The study was of the larger (twice-a-week) Enbrel dose that many patients prefer (but which costs more).

New psoriasis podcast released on improving doctor-patient communication

We have just released our latest podcast, on improving doctor-patient communication. We interview a dermatologist with four decades of experience in working with psoriasis and treating patients. This free podcast is also available on iTunes. Be sure to subscribe to our podcasts so they are sent directly to you when released. Expect the next one in about three weeks.

Click here for our new podcast on improving doctor-patient communication.

Click here for more on our entire psoriasis podcast series.

Doctor visit questionnaire launched for psoriasis patients

Psoriasis Cure Now has launched an innovative new web tool to help psoriasis patients get more out of their doctor visits. Here's how it works. Before your next doctor appointment, you answer a few questions on our website's Psoriasis Doctor Visit Questionnaire. Then, you print out the results and take it with you to your next appointment with your dermatologist (or whoever treats your psoriasis).

This way, you get to explain the full impact of your psoriasis in greater detail than is often possible in an office visit, and you get to answer the questions in a leisurely pace in your own home. Your doctor benefits because he or she gets to review your printout before entering your examination room, so your appointment can focus on the most important areas of concern to you.

The questionnaire includes physical symptoms, emotional challenges, impacts on work and social life, and other areas that should ideally be covered in every doctor visit. It's a great tool to enhance doctor-patient communication, and it's free from Psoriasis Cure Now.

Check it out and let us know what you think! In a few years, answering internet surveys prior to visiting your physician will be commonplace for every disease. We are happy to be on the cutting-edge of this sensible use of technology to improve health outcomes.

Can psoriasis biologics reduce Alzheimer's disease risk?

In the bad news department: A new study reported in the scientific journal Neurology suggests that people with high levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) may be more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. TNF-alpha is a cytokine--a type of protein that helps cells communicate--that is elevated in psoriasis patients. As Reuters noted in Inflammation may contribute to Alzheimer's disease:

individuals with the highest production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha were 30 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those with the lowest production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Silver lining department: Some of the biologics approved to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis work by reducing levels of TNF-alpha. Wouldn't it be nice if scientists someday can show that the treatments many psoriasis patients must take to treat their disease may have other health benefits?

TB, Andrew Speaker and psoriasis

We would not typically cover a story like that of Andrew Speaker, the personal injury lawyer and international traveler with a dangerous strain of tuberculosis who boarded a plane with nearly 500 unsuspecting fellow-travelers. But the mini-scandal actually does have relevance to the psoriasis community.

Many psoriasis treatments, including the new biologics, can make someone more susceptible to serious infections. In fact, while few people die because of psoriasis, among the few that do are people who contract tuberculosis while taking these psoriasis medications. So the last thing we want are people with drug-resistant TB sitting next to us on planes or subways.

Perhaps the public heat put on Mr. Speaker will make the next person think a bit about those who could be harmed by ignoring the risk of transmission of TB.

And if after all those billions of dollars, it's still that easy to evade the Department of Homeland Security, perhaps some of those tax dollars would be better spent on psoriasis research.

(You didn't think we'd miss a chance to plug psoriasis research, did you?)