Pigmentary change often drives patients to seek dermatologic care, yet sometimes the cause is more than skin deep. Next Steps in Derm, in partnership with Skin of Color Update, interviewed conference co-chair Dr. Andrew F. Alexis about the skin signs of systemic disease in patients with darker skin tones. Watch as Dr. Alexis shares stories of the diseases he’s diagnosed in clinical practice. Learn diagnostic clues to systemic disease and why one disease is called “the great imitator.” In providing quality patient care, hear why Dr. Alexis recommends dermatologists keep an open mind and consider the whole patient.
Further Reading
If you want to read more about systemic diseases with dermatologic manifestations, check out the following articles published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology:
Cutaneous Sarcoidosis in Skin of Color
ABSTRACT
Cutaneous sarcoidosis presents in 25% of all sarcoidosis cases. African American populations, particularly African American women, are more likely to develop the dermatologic manifestations of the disease. There are several types of skin manifestations of sarcoidosis, which can make it more difficult to diagnose it clinically. Given the higher incidence of sarcoidosis and the poorer outcomes in these populations, it is essential to understand and recognize the variety of dermatologic symptoms associated with sarcoidosis. By doing so, patients can be diagnosed and treated earlier in their disease progression.
The Role of JAK Inhibitors in the Treatment of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: A Review
ABSTRACT
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), a manifestation of the chronic autoimmune disease lupus erythematosus (LE), showcases diverse clinical, immunologic, and histologic attributes. CLE can be further categorized into subtypes — acute (ACLE), subacute (SCLE), or chronic (CCLE) — with each class characterized by distinct features, including the degree of cutaneous involvement, lesion duration, and associated laboratory findings. While conventional treatments, including photoprotective strategies, topical corticosteroids, and antimalarial agents, have proven effective for some, recent immunomodulatory therapies offer alternative avenues. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, in particular, have gained attention due to their demonstrated efficacy in the management of various autoimmune disorders. Dysregulation of the JAK/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of CLE, further underscoring the promise of JAK inhibitors as an adjunctive therapy alongside systemic immunosuppression. This systematic review aims to discuss the diagnosis and categorization of CLE and its subtypes, elucidate the intricacies of intracellular signaling within the JAK/STAT pathway, and discuss the current applications of JAK inhibitors in the treatment of autoimmune disease. Supported by cases, randomized control trials, basic science articles, and other reviews in the literature, this review provides evidence for the use of the JAK/STAT pathway as a therapeutic target. Nevertheless, the role of JAK inhibitors and their therapeutic properties warrant further scrutiny through rigorous investigation and comprehensive randomized control trials to ascertain safety and efficacy.
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