Estimation of prevalence of autoimmune diseases in the United States using electronic health record data.

Background: Previous epidemiologic studies of autoimmune diseases in the United States (US) have included a limited number of diseases or used meta-analyses that rely on different data collection methods and analyses for each disease.

Methods: To estimate the prevalence of autoimmune diseases in the US, we used electronic health record data from six large medical systems in the US. We developed a software program using common methodology to compute the estimated prevalence of autoimmune diseases alone and in aggregate that can be readily used by other investigators to replicate or modify the analysis over time.

Unique characteristics of anti-MDA-5 associated dermatomyositis in Southern California with a large Hispanic population.

Objectives: There is little to no data about the presentation and clinical course of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene-5 antibody (anti-MDA-5) dermatomyositis in a primarily U.S. Hispanic population.

Psychiatric comorbidities on an inpatient dermatology consultation service: A cross-sectional analysis.

Despite the high prevalence of psychiatric illness in hospitalised dermatology patients, characterisation of psychiatric comorbidities on an inpatient dermatology consultation service in the United States has yet to be performed. To fill this gap in knowledge, we investigated the prevalence of and factors associated with psychiatric illness on the inpatient dermatology consultation service at the University of Southern California. Of the 429 patients seen by the dermatology consultation service between June 2021 to July 2022, 147 (34%) had psychiatric illness (defined as having at least 1 psychiatric diagnosis).

Treatments for Dissecting Cellulitis of the Scalp: A Systematic Review and Treatment Algorithm.

Background: Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (DCS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by abscesses, nodules, fistulas, and scarring alopecia. Management of this oftentimes debilitating dermatosis can be challenging due to its recalcitrant nature. There is limited data regarding the efficacy of treatment options for DCS.

Efficacy of Etanercept in the Treatment of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

It has been suggested that the use of etanercept for treatment of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) might provide improved mortality benefit and decreased skin healing times. This retrospective study compared the use of single-dose subcutaneous etanercept to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and supportive care alone. Thirteen patients were treated with a single dose (50 mg) of subcutaneous etanercept.

Overlap between hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and drug reaction and eosinophilia with systemic symptoms: a review.

Drug reaction and eosinophilia with systemic symptoms (DRESS), also known as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS), shares features with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), most notably fever, rash, and internal organ involvement. However, there is increasing recognition of drug-induced (secondary) HLH and biopsy-proven hemophagocytosis in DRESS, suggesting that HLH and DRESS not only overlap but also may be diseases on the same spectrum of immune dysfunction. To characterize existing literature on HLH/DRESS overlap, we queried the PubMed/MEDLINE database for 23 cases of HLH-DRESS codiagnosis.

Nodular secondary syphilis in three HIV-positive patients: a case series.

Nodular secondary syphilis is an uncommon variant of secondary syphilis. We identified three cases of nodular secondary syphilis at our institution. The first patient presented with a diffuse nodular rash that included his scrotum and penis.

Disseminated cutaneous gout: a rare manifestation of a common disease.

Disseminated cutaneous gout is a rare atypical cutaneous manifestation of gout in which widespread dermal and subcutaneous tophi develop at extra-articular body sites. Given the lack of joint involvement that is typically a feature in tophaceous gout, the diagnosis may not be initially suspected. We present the case of a 50-year-old Hispanic man with poorly controlled gout who was evaluated for several years of firm papulonodules over the trunk and upper and lower extremities, sparing the joints; histopathology confirmed, the diagnosis of disseminated cutaneous gout.

Sorafenib Toxicity Mimicking Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome.

Sorafenib is an oral multikinase inhibitor approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular and renal cell carcinoma. Cases of sorafenib-induced Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome have been reported in the literature. DRESS syndrome is a potentially fatal, drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction that occurs 2-8 weeks after drug exposure.

Patient satisfaction and quality of care: a prospective study at outpatient dermatology clinics.

Patient satisfaction often is used as a proxy for quality of care, with physicians evaluated and reimbursed based on patient satisfaction scores. As a specialty, dermatology is lagging in quality improvement studies. To fill this gap, we conducted a prospective study of targeted interventions administered at outpatient dermatology clinics to determine if they resulted in statistically significant increases in patient satisfaction measures, particularly among Spanish-speaking patients.

Improving patient satisfaction in dermatology: a prospective study of an urban dermatology clinic.

Patient satisfaction has become an important measure of quality under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In this study, we assessed and analyzed patient satisfaction, nonattendance rates, and cycle times in an outpatient dermatology clinic. This study provides a snapshot of patient satisfaction in an urban dermatology clinic.

The role of spatially-derived access-to-care characteristics in melanoma prevention and control in Los Angeles county.

Among 10,068 incident cases of invasive melanoma, we examined the effects of patient characteristics and access-to-care on the risk of advanced melanoma. Access-to-care was defined in terms of census tract-level sociodemographics, health insurance, cost of dermatological services and appointment wait-times, clinic density and travel distance. Public health insurance and education level were the strongest predictors of advanced melanomas but were modified by race/ethnicity and poverty: Hispanic whites and high-poverty neighborhoods were worse off than non-Hispanic whites and low-poverty neighborhoods.