Expert Interviews

Panelists discuss how proper application technique and adherence are vital for topical atopic dermatitis treatments. Effective provider communication and primary care provider/dermatologist collaboration optimize patient outcomes through education and coordinated care. Primary care providers and dermatologists should coordinate care through clear communication, shared protocols, and defined referral pathways to optimize atopic dermatitis management and improve patient outcomes.

Panelists discuss how, based on clinical observations, atopic dermatitis imposes significant physical and mental burdens. Patients experience chronic itching, pain, and sleep disruption while experiencing psychological distress, social anxiety, and reduced self-esteem. Delayed diagnosis exacerbates these burdens, allowing disease progression and worsening quality of life.

Panelists discuss recent topical atopic dermatitis therapies, which include roflumilast (PDE4 inhibitor, age ≥ 6 years), ruxolitinib (JAK inhibitor, age ≥ 12 years), and tapinarof (hydrocarbon receptor agonist, age ≥ 2 years). Treatment selection considers disease severity, age, affected areas, comorbidities, and previous therapy responses.

Panelists discuss how the newer topical agents (PDE4 inhibitors, JAK inhibitors) demonstrate comparable efficacy to midpotency corticosteroids but with improved safety profiles, lacking steroid-related adverse effects such as skin atrophy, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression, and tachyphylaxis when used long term.

Shahriari, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, says greater understanding of the condition has expanded the population for the diagnosis.

Panelists discuss how older topical treatments such as corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and crisaborole have limited efficacy with prolonged use. Corticosteroids cause skin thinning and systemic absorption on large body surface area (BSA). Calcineurin inhibitors and crisaborole show modest efficacy, with application site reactions.

Panelists discuss how atopic dermatitis diagnosis in primary care relies on clinical features including pruritus, characteristic distribution, and chronic/relapsing course. Severity assessment involves examining extent, intensity, impact on quality of life, and response to previous treatments.

Not all atopic dermatitis requires treatment by a specialist, says this dermatologist, and she collaborates regularly with her primary care colleagues.

More consistent use of evidence-based guidelines and individualized pain management for every patient lead the hopes Edward Mariano, MD, MAS has for the future.

Edward Mariano, MD, MAS, looks at the risk of acute pain transitioning to a chronic condition and how a new nonopioid for acute pain might work for the latter.

Multimodal pain management expert and researcher Mariano describes the NaV1.8 inhibitor as "working in concert" with nonopioid therapies, including nerve blocks.

An anesthesiologist and renowned investigator in use of nonopioids as part of multimodal pain management, Edward Mariano, MD, MAS, describes slow uptake in the field.

Opioid prescribing has seen its extremes, from the 5th Vital Sign era in the aughts to the CDC restrictions of 2016. Mariano talks about the environment right now.

Brexpiprazole and sertraline showed promise for PTSD treatment in a recent study. Lead author, Lori Davis, MD, discusses clinical findings, treatment guidelines, and future research directions.

Suzetrigine (Journavx) PI Todd Bertoch, MD, identifies the sweet spot where he thinks the new NaV1.8 inhibitor will be most effective in post-surgical and other moderate-to-severe acute pain.

Robert Hopkins, Jr, MD, says of official communications during the COVID-19 pandemic that not enough was explained to the public about policy shifts, leaving people wondering.

Mariano, a well-known researcher in regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine, talks about the Journavx difference, including the drug's safety profile.

Todd Bertoch, MD, reviews the significant findings on relief of pain from the 2 pivotal studies and lauds the remarkable safety profile of the novel nonopoid analgesic Journavx.

Journavx is the first and only approved non-opioid oral pain signal inhibitor and the first new class of pain medicine approved in more than 20 years.

Data showed that brexpiprazole plus sertraline significantly improved PTSD symptoms vs sertraline alone. Lead author, Lori Davis, MD, discusses more.

Todd W. Frieze, MD, concludes this series discussing differences in benign vs cancerous tumors and key final takeaways.

Todd W. Frieze, MD, highlights the various ways to accurately assess patient thyroid hormone levels and the general guidelines on patient surveillance.

Todd W. Frieze, MD, discusses various suppression therapy approaches for patients with hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer.

Alex Tessnow, MD, concludes this series with key final takeaways.

Alex Tessnow, MD, reviews treatment approaches for elderly patients with hypothyroidism.

Alex Tessnow, MD, discusses the common symptoms and red flags associated with hypothyroidism in elderly patients.

Alex Tessnow, MD, highlights the variability of hypothyroidism among elderly patients.

Dr Turner reviews the profile of the individual who is most likely to benefit from lecanemab therapy.

Georgetown University memory disorders expert R Scott Turner, PhD, MD, reviews the science behind approval of lecanemab for monthly maintenance dosing of lecanemab.

The revolutionary medications are the first new treatments for Alzheimer disease to be approved in more than 20 years and the first-ever disease-modifying drugs.