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Background: The German psoriasis registry PsoBest records the long-term efficacy, safety, patient benefit and treatment regimens of psoriasis., Patients and Methods: Patients with moderate or severe psoriasis are included in PsoBest when treatment with a conventional systemic agent or biologic is started for the first time. Observation time is five years. Standardized physician and patient case report forms are obtained every three to six months. Baseline data of patients included by 31 December 2012 are presented and compared to the national health care study PsoHealth 2007 (n = 2,009)., Results: 602 dermatology practices and clinics have been registered and 199 have recruited n = 2,556 patients (63 % by practices, 37 % by clinics). Initially, n = 808 received biologics (316 adalimumab, 34 efalizumab, 209 etanercept, 75 infliximab, 22 golimumab, 152 ustekinumab) and n = 1,651 conventional systemic therapy (928 fumaric acid esters, 518 methotrexate, 161 cyclosporine A, 191 other drugs or UV treatment). Compared to PsoHealth, patients in PsoBest had on average a higher disease severity (PASI 14.7 vs. 10.1; DLQI 11.0 vs. 7.5; EQ-5D VAS 54.0 vs. 64.5), shorter disease duration (18.2 vs. 21.3 yrs.), lower age (47.3 vs. 51.5), higher rates of psoriatic arthritis (20.5 vs. 19.1 %) and nail psoriasis (55.0 vs. 35.6 %). On average patients receiving biologics were younger, more often male and had higher disease severity and comorbidity., Conclusions: Patients in PsoBest represent patients with a high burden of disease., (© 2014 Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: No consistent data are available on the currently employed diagnostic tools for autoimmune bullous diseases in Germany. The aim of this survey was to describe currently performed diagnostic methods for bullous autoimmune diseases in German dermatology departments., Methods: A standardized questionnaire evaluated the available diagnostic methods i. e. direct immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM), indirect IFM, commercial ELISA systems, and non-commercial serological tests as well as the number of samples per year in all 34 university and 39 non-university dermatology departments., Results: The overall return rate was 89 %, 100 % and 79 % for the university and non-university departments, respectively. Direct IFM was the most frequently used method and was applied in 98 % of the responding departments. In 74 % of the responding departments, indirect IFM was used mainly on monkey esophagus and human salt-split skin. Commercial ELISA systems were employed in 58 % of the clinics; all of them used anti-desmoglein ELISA, while anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 ELISA were established in 49 % and 48 % of departments, respectively. Non-commercial analytic methods were only performed in 22 % of the departments., Conclusions: The high return rate of this survey allows a relatively precise description of the current diagnostic methods used in German dermatology departments. Standard diagnostic tests are available nationwide and in bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus, the antigen-specific detection of autoantibodies is routinely performed in half of the departments. Rare disorders may be diagnosed by cooperation with some specialized centers., (© The Authors • Journal compilation © Blackwell Verlag GmbH, Berlin.)

The VEGF signaling pathway (including ligands, surface-bound receptors and intracellular downstream signaling cascades) is critically involved in angiogenesis under normal and pathological conditions, in particular in malignant tumors. As a consequence, several therapies that target specific components of this pathway have been approved for clinical use or are in various stages of clinical development. Currently, the monoclonal antibodies bevacizumab and ranibizumab, as well as the small-molecule kinase inhibitors sorafenib and sunitinib, have been approved for cancer therapy. The spectrum of cutaneous side effects elicited by bevacizumab is considerably less pronounced than that seen with EGF inhibitors and includes peripheral sensory neuropathy, stomatitis, skin dryness, skin discoloration and exfoliative dermatitis. In contrast, unwanted cutaneous side effects seen with the less specific small molecule compounds include pruritic exanthems, nail changes, cheilitis and the painful hand-foot-syndrome.

The prodrug leflunomide is an immunomodulatory agent whose M1 metabolite inhibits the proliferation of T- and B-lymphocytes. The efficacy of leflunomide in rheumatoid arthritis suggests it may be useful psoriasis arthritis. Two patients with psoriasis arthritis in whom NSAIDs, glucocorticosteroids, sulfasalazine, cyclosporine and methotrexate were not as effective as expected were treated with leflunomide for 18 and 27 months. At regular visits examination of the joints (according to the ACR criteria) and the skin (PASI), the visual analogue scale for pain, and the quality of life (HAQ) were assessed. In both patients progression of the joint disease was arrested, pain reduced and quality of life improved. The cutaneous findings did not change, even though topical therapy was continued. Leflunomide is a long-term treatment option for patients with predominantly joint disease. In case of insufficient response, combination with other anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. methotrexate, is possible. As leflunomide has little effect on psoriatic skin lesions, additional topical therapy is necessary.