Reviewing Major Dermatologic Studies of the Year: 2024

As dermatology continues to evolve, 2024 brought groundbreaking studies that have reshaped clinical practices and deepened an understanding of skin health. From innovative therapies to insights into complex skin conditions, these studies have set new benchmarks for patient care and research. In this recap, we highlight the most impactful dermatologic studies of the year.

The Lancet: Efficacy and Safety of Ligelizumab in Adults and Adolescents With Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Results of Two Phase 3 Randomised Controlled Trials

Maurer et al’s phase 3 PEARL trials demonstrated that ligelizumab significantly improved chronic spontaneous urticaria symptoms compared to placebo, with a consistent safety profile, though it did not outperform omalizumab.

The American Journal of Dermatopathology: Immunohistochemical Expression of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 in the Skin of Patients Affected by COVID-19

Abdou et al’s study highlights that ACE2 expression in the skin, higher in COVID-19 patients without cutaneous manifestations, correlates with disease severity and comorbidities, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for worsened status.

Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology: Causal Effects of Lipids-Related Metabolites on Androgenic Alopecia: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Bi et al's Mendelian randomization study identified a causal link between elevated lipid-related metabolites, including Apolipoprotein B and low-density lipoproteins, and an increased risk of androgenic alopecia, highlighting the potential importance of controlling serum lipid profiles in AGA treatment.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology: Autoimmune, Autoinflammatory Disease and Cutaneous Malignancy Associations with Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Cross-Sectional Study

Brydges et al’s study revealed strong associations between hidradenitis suppurativa and several autoimmune, autoinflammatory, and cutaneous malignancies, highlighting novel comorbidities such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and skin cancers in Black patients, which provide insights into its epidemiology and pathophysiology.

Dermatologic Surgery: Topical Treatment of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Situ and the Impact of Clinical Risk Factors and Positive Histologic Margins at the Time of Diagnosis

Calley et al’s study highlights the efficacy of topical 5-fluorouracil for treating cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in situ, especially in smaller lesions, while cautioning against the use of imiquimod due to higher recurrence rates and limited effectiveness.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology: Functional and Cutaneous Treatment Outcomes With Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Eosinophilic Fasciitis: A Retrospective Study

Obiakor et al’s study suggests intravenous immunoglobulin as an effective treatment for refractory eosinophilic fasciitis, with most patients experiencing sustained improvement in both cutaneous and functional outcomes.

Clinical and Experimental Dermatology: Safety of Omalizumab in Chronic Urticaria During Pregnancy: A Real-life Study

Patruno et al’s study suggests that omalizumab is a safe and effective treatment for pregnant patients with severe chronic spontaneous urticaria, showing no adverse effects on mothers or newborns.

European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Targeting IL-13 With Tralokinumab Normalizes Type 2 Inflammation in Atopic Dermatitis Both Early and at 2 years

Guttman-Yassky et al’s study highlights that tralokinumab, targeting IL-13, significantly reduces type 2 inflammation and improves clinical outcomes in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The long-term benefits suggest it could offer disease-modifying potential for AD management.

New England Journal of Medicine: An Oral Interleukin-23–Receptor Antagonist Peptide for Plaque Psoriasis

Bissonnette et al’s phase 2 trial demonstrated that JNJ-77242113, an oral interleukin-23 receptor antagonist peptide, significantly improved psoriasis severity with favorable results across various dosages. This trial suggests JNJ-77242113 may become a promising new oral treatment option for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, offering a convenient alternative to injection-based therapies.

Frontiers in Medicine: Artificial Intelligence in Cutaneous Lesions: Where Do We Stand and What is Next?

Giavina-Bianchi and Ko's editorial explored the rise of AI in dermatology, particularly for cutaneous lesions. Despite AI's promising potential in enhancing diagnostic accuracy, reducing referrals, and improving patient confidence, the editorial emphasizes that integrating AI into routine clinical practice is still challenging.

The American Journal of Dermatopathology: Onychocytic Matricoma: A Clinical, Dermoscopic, and Pathological Analysis of 14 Cases

Perrin et al's study on onychocytic matricoma, a rare benign nail tumor, represents the largest case series to date. The research highlighted how OCM presents with unique clinical and dermoscopic features, which can mimic more serious conditions like melanoma.

Journal of the German Society of Dermatology: Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of The Laight-Therapy In Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Strobel et al’s study on LAight therapy for hidradenitis suppurativa demonstrated significant improvements in disease severity, pain, and quality of life across all Hurley stages (I-III). Utilizing real-world data from over 3400 patients, the research showed substantial reductions in the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System and Dermatology Life Quality Index.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology: Characteristics and Drivers of Fatigue in Patients With Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: A Cross Sectional Study

Nymand et al’s study on fatigue in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis highlights the disproportionate fatigue burden in PsA patients. By identifying joint pain and itch as key fatigue drivers, the research emphasizes the importance of symptom-based management.

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology: Oral Dutasteride is a First-Line Treatment for Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

Vano-Galvan and Saceda-Corralo identified oral dutasteride as a first-line treatment for frontal fibrosing alopecia due to its high efficacy and favorable safety profile, despite being off-label. With a 62.8% stabilization rate from a meta-analysis, its effectiveness is attributed to antifibrotic, hormonal, and immunomodulatory properties.

Dermatologic Therapy: Needle Before Scalpel: Considering the Role of Intratumoral Therapy in Melanoma

Katz et al reviewed intratumoral therapies as an innovative approach for melanoma treatment, emphasizing their ability to achieve localized tumor control and stimulate systemic antitumor responses with reduced toxicity. Key agents like talimogene laherparepvec and coxsackievirus A21 showed notable efficacy, particularly when combined with systemic immunotherapies.

JEADV Clinical Practice: Differences in Frequency of Vulvar Dermatoses According to Ethnicity: A Study of a Cohort of Patients in a Large Diverse UK Teaching Hospital

A UK study on 246 patients revealed ethnic differences in vulvar dermatoses diagnoses. Lichen sclerosus predominated among White patients, while lichen simplex was more common in Asian and Black patients, with Asian patients being 20.2 times more likely to receive this diagnosis.

JEADV Clinical Practice: Implementation and Evaluation of a Patient Action Plan for Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

A study by Thormann et al evaluated the impact of individualized patient action plans on disease severity and outcomes in adults with atopic dermatitis. Results showed significant improvements, including a reduction in AD severity (SCORAD score decreased from 38.1 to 22.0), improved self-care knowledge, and better quality of life.

Pediatric Dermatology: A Case Series of Refractory Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis Effectively Treated With Dupilumab in Combination With Abrocitinib

Fong et al. studied the combination of dupilumab and abrocitinib in pediatric patients with severe, refractory atopic dermatitis unresponsive to other therapies. The combination significantly improved AD control and stabilized the condition, while reducing common side effects such as conjunctivitis.

Health Technology Assessment: Alitretinoin Versus Phototherapy as the First-Line Treatment in Adults with Severe Chronic Hand Eczema: the ALPHA RCT

The ALPHA study compared oral alitretinoin with UV therapy in patients with severe chronic hand eczema unresponsive to corticosteroids. Alitretinoin demonstrated faster improvement and was cost-effective, with 27.6% of patients achieving clear or almost clear symptoms compared to 23.6% in the UV therapy group.

Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research: Treatment With Upadacitinib in Refractory Prurigo Nodularis: A Prospective Cohort Study

A study by Lee et al. evaluated the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib, a JAK inhibitor, in 10 patients with refractory PN. The results showed significant improvement, with itch severity dropping from 8.1 to 0.7 on the Numeric Rating Scale by week 24. 80% of patients had an Investigator’s Global Assessment score of 0/1 by the study's end, suggesting upadacitinib's potential as an effective treatment.

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