Research gaps in psoriasis: opportunities for future studies

Abstract

Over the past 2 decades, considerable progress has been made to further elucidate the complex pathogenesis of psoriasis, facilitating the development of a new armamentarium of more effective, targeted therapies. Despite these important advances, substantial deficits remain in our understanding of psoriasis and its treatment, necessitating further research in many areas. In the sixth section of the American Academy of Dermatology Psoriasis Guidelines of Care, gaps in research and care were identified. We discuss the most important gaps in research that currently exist and make suggestions for studies that should be performed to address these deficits. These encompass both basic science and clinical research studies, including large, prospective epidemiologic studies to determine the true prevalence and natural history of psoriasis; further molecular studies in patients with psoriatic and psoriatic arthritis to understand the function of psoriasis susceptibility genes and to identify novel therapeutic targets; studies to examine the role of environmental factors in the development of psoriasis; further investigation of the relationship between psoriasis and cardiometabolic disease; studies that examine the role of adjunctive therapies such as psychological interventions in appropriate patient groups; and finally, studies to identify biomarkers of disease severity and treatment response to optimize patient therapy.

Keywords: ACR; American College of Rheumatology; C-reactive protein; CRP; FDA; Food and Drug Administration; IFN; IL; MACE; MI; NB; NIH; National Institutes of Health; PsA; RA; RCT; TNF; UV; VEGF; adjunctive therapies; biologics; cardiovascular disease; comorbidities in psoriasis; comparative studies; disease severity; environmental factors in the development of psoriasis; future research studies; interferon; interleukin; major adverse cardiovascular events; methotrexate; molecular studies in psoriatic and psoriatic arthritis; myocardial infarction; narrowband; pathomechanisms and genetics of psoriasis; phototherapy; psoriasis; psoriasis guidelines; psoriasis treatment; psoriatic arthritis; psychological; randomized controlled clinical trial; research gaps; rheumatoid arthritis; therapeutic targets; topical therapies; tumor necrosis factor; ultraviolet; vascular endothelial growth factor.