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- Presentation
Remission, Molecular Remission, and Cure in Psoriatic Disease
Description
The talk reviewed how the field of psoriatic disease has moved from modest skin response targets like PASI 50 and PASI 75 toward more ambitious goals including PASI 90, clinical remission, molecular remission, and possibly cure. It emphasized that remission is no longer viewed as only a skin endpoint but should also account for comorbidities such as psoriatic arthritis, cardiometabolic disease, and systemic inflammation. The speaker summarized National Psoriasis Foundation efforts to define drug-free remission, histopathologic and molecular remission, and especially on-treatment remission in plaque psoriasis, defined as maintaining 0% body surface area or an investigator global assessment of 0 for at least six months while on therapy. Patient survey data showed that many patients with low disease burden consider themselves in remission even without complete clearance, and this perception is associated with better quality of life. The presentation also noted that newer therapies are achieving these stringent targets in substantial numbers of patients and sustaining them over years. Looking ahead, the speaker described ongoing work to define psoriatic arthritis remission, incorporating clinician measures, patient-reported outcomes, imaging, and possibly mechanistic biomarkers. Finally, cure was presented as an aspirational future state, likely meaning no medication, no recurrence, and no risk of psoriasis or its complications, but the field is not there yet.
View moreConclusions
- The presentation concludes that psoriasis care is moving beyond skin clearance alone toward remission, molecular remission, and potentially cure as the next therapeutic goals.
- It argues that on-treatment remission is now a measurable and clinically meaningful endpoint defined by complete skin clearance sustained on therapy for a defined period.
- Patient-reported data suggest many people consider themselves in remission even without total clearance, and remission is associated with better quality of life.
- The speaker concludes that remission cannot be defined by body surface area alone and should eventually incorporate patient-reported outcomes and other multidimensional measures.
- Newer biologic therapies can help substantial proportions of patients achieve and maintain stringent on-treatment remission over long periods.
- The work suggests that remission definitions in psoriasis are influencing related fields such as atopic dermatitis and psoriatic arthritis.
- The presentation concludes that psoriatic arthritis remission remains a work in progress, but consensus efforts are underway to define it using clinical, symptom, and imaging domains.
- Although cure is not yet a practical clinical reality, the literature suggests it may eventually become conceivable through early intervention, combination treatment, prevention, or other mechanistic advances.
- Overall, the presentation concludes that remission is no longer just a concept but an endpoint that is increasingly relevant for trials, patients, and future regulatory frameworks.
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