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Combined dermatology-rheumatology clinics improve care, spark new research
There are a growing number of dual dermatology-rheumatology clinics at U.S. academic medical centers that combine dermatologic and rheumatologic...
About one-third of patients left the clinic with changes in diagnosis. About 1 in 5 patients with psoriasis were diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis as well. For the psoriasis patients newly diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, 80% had an escalation in treatment, said Dr. Gn, an internal medicine resident.
Of the 41 patients with psoriasis, 17 (41%) had a treatment escalation. The same was true for 15 (79%) of the 19 patients with psoriatic arthritis post-evaluation.
Regarding the combined clinic, “it’s shown to be very beneficial for patients with psoriatic arthritis,” Dr. Gn said.
The record review from July 2014 to February 2016 shows the clinic also serves patients with cutaneous lupus, dermatomyositis, pyoderma gangrenosum, vasculitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, among others.
The presenters had no relevant disclosures.