The emergence of immune-modulating drugs such as biologics has altered the treatment landscape for psoriasis. However, their use presents high financial costs to patients and healthcare systems. Patient demographic and socioeconomic status may influence adherence to biologic medications and usage of healthcare resources. Areas covered: We performed a systematic literature review to summarize the available evidence pertaining to biologic medication adherence and resource use. PubMed was searched using the terms 'psoriasis and adherence' and 'psoriasis biologics resource use.' Expert commentary: Psoriasis patients utilize many healthcare resources. Adherence rates are typically higher for biologics than for other psoriasis treatment categories. However, adherence rates are still suboptimal.
Raynaud phenomenon is characterized by vasospasm of arterioles causing intermittent ischemia of the digits. The characteristic triphasic color change presents first as a dramatic change in skin color from normal to white, as the vasoconstriction causes pallor secondary to ischemia. This change is followed by a blue appearance, as cyanosis results from the deoxygenated venous blood. Finally, reflex vasodilation and reperfusion manifest as a red color from erythema. Several cases have been reported describing Raynaud phenomenon affecting the nipples of breastfeeding women. 1-5 This vasospasm results in episodic nipple pain manifesting from breastfeeding and exposure to cold. If it is not appropriately treated, the pain's severity causes affected women to stop breastfeeding. We report a case of vasospasm of the nipple in which the patient experienced nipple pain and a separate lancinating pain that radiated through the breasts.
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