Victoria Johnson joined the MJH Life Sciences in 2020 and has written for NeurologyLive, CGTLive, and now HCPLive. You can reach her at vjohnson@mjhlifesciences.com

Victoria Johnson

Mease discussed recent research on what matters in PsA care between patients and clinicians.

Considering Patient Priorities in PsA Care, with Philip Mease, MD

New research, led by Philip Mease, MD, Clinical Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine and Director, Rheumatology Research, Swedish Medical Center, has highlighted 

differences between patient and clinician priorities

 in the management of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Mease and colleagues put together a list of PsA attributes important to 4 focus groups of patients with PsA and a steering group of physicians and surveyed clinicians and patients to denote importance of attributes on the list. They found that both groups held attributes of arthritis, disease activity, pain, fatigue, physical function, and spine symptoms as highest priorities, but also found that patients ranked attributes such as access to care, daily activities, stiffness, future health uncertainty, and sleep quality as more important while clinicians ranked specific disease skin and joint manifestations, comorbidities, structural damage, and disease management goals as more important.

 spoke with Mease to learn more about the research and what the investigators learned from the study. Mease noted his surprise to see some of the attributes that patients considered more important and shared how some of the study’s findings have impacted the way he cares for patients.

“What this has done for me is to try to carve out a part of our clinic visit that isn't just focused on, have you had any adverse effects? What's your pain level like? How many swollen joints do you have? But sitting back and [asking], are there other concerns that you have or questions that we haven't had a chance to address during our various conversations and just trying to have a few minutes [with them to open up],” Mease said.

Relevant disclosures include AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Genentech, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Sun and UCB.

Mease PJ, Husni ME, Siegel E, et al. What Matters in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Comparison of Patient and Clinician Perspectives. ACR Open Rheumatol. Published online January 12, 2025. doi: 10.1002/acr2.11781

Videos

Hoyte discussed findings from a post hoc analysis of the phase 3 NAVIGATOR study.

Investigating IL-5, IL-13, and Tezepelumab Response, with Flavia Hoyte, MD

A new study has found that tezepelumab seems to be especially efficacious in treating asthma exacerbations in people with both high serum IL-5 and IL-13 levels.

These findings, from a subgroup analysis of the phase 3 NAVIGATOR study (NCT03347279), were presented at the 

2025 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI)/World Allergy Organization (WAO) Joint Congress

, February 28-March 3, in San Diego, California, by Flavia Hoyte, MD, Professor and Director, Allergy & Clinical Immunology Fellowship, Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, National Jewish Health.

HCPLive spoke with Hoyte to learn more about the analysis and what the investigators found by stratifying participants by IL-5 and IL-13 levels. She discussed implications of the analysis’ findings and theorized that blocking both IL-5 and IL-13 may provide an additive effect in reducing asthma exacerbations. Although these cytokine levels are not usually checked in clinics, Hoyte noted that they may, in the future, be able to be used as biomarkers for response to tezepelumab and other biologics.

“Eventually, I think if the assays can be better understood and better validated for clinical use, then you might be able to use those as a biomarker. And we're always looking for better biomarkers and asthma, so we might be able to use these cytokine levels as a biomarker of who might respond better to one biologic or another,” Hoyte said, although she stressed that they are currently not ready for use in the clinic.

Hoyte F, Mathur S, Carr T, et al. Efficacy Of Tezepelumab In Patients With Severe, Uncontrolled Asthma Grouped By Median Baseline Serum IL-5 And IL-13 Levels: Results From The Phase 3 NAVIGATOR Study. Presented at: 2025 AAAAI/WAO Joint Congress, February 28-March 3. Abstract 935

A narrative review highlights a strong link between 

 in children, with nasal congestion, wheezing, and itching disrupting sleep patterns.

The review examined many studies conducted in Saudi Arabia which has a high prevalence of allergic diseases in children, such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis.

 Studies also demonstrated increased sleep issues among children, such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome.

Allergic conditions can contribute to sleep fragmentation, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and excessive daytime sleepiness, negatively affecting cognitive function, behavior, and overall well-being.

Allergic rhinitis may worsen or lead to the development of OSA, though the mechanism remains unclear.

“It is believed that nasal congestion and inflammation caused by allergic rhinitis can lead to upper airway obstruction during sleep,” wrote author Maryam Saud Aljaid, from the department of pediatrics at Taif University in Saudi Arabia. “Increased nasal resistance can affect the collapsibility of the upper airway, and nasal congestion may lead to mouth breathing, further increasing the risk of upper airway collapse and OSA.”

Asthma is also tied to sleep disorders in children, causing difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings throughout the night, and daytime fatigue. Aljaid wrote that patients may have impacted sleep due to the inflammatory nature of asthma.

With asthma, the body releases inflammatory mediators that may disrupt sleep regulation and heighten arousal responses. Asthma symptoms often worsen at night, with both their severity and frequent rescue inhaler use disrupting sleep.

Furthermore, children with atopic dermatitis often experience difficulties falling asleep and nighttime awakenings. The more severe the atopic dermatitis, the poorer the sleep quality. Atopic dermatitis and sleep disturbances exacerbate each other; while inadequate sleep can increase stress, weaken immune function, and heighten skin inflammation, atopic dermatitis can directly interfere with sleep quality.

For children with atopic dermatitis and sleep issues, both conditions need to be treated. For instance, atopic dermatitis can be addressed with topical creams and good skincare practices to relieve skin inflammation and itching. Moreover, sleep issues could be improved by establishing a bedtime routine focusing on relaxation, reducing itching, and creating a comfortable sleep environment.

Many sleep treatments exist. For instance, patients can undergo cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia and continuous positive airway pressure therapy or adenotonsillectomy in severe cases of sleep apnea.

Some sleep disorders can simply be managed by making lifestyle changes. For instance, patients with restless legs syndrome can adapt their lifestyle by avoiding caffeine, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and taking medications of dopamine agonists or iron supplements. It is recommended for patients with parasomnias to create a safe sleep environment and manage stress or anxiety with medication or specialized interventions.

Pharmacological interventions can be important in managing allergy symptoms. Antihistamines can improve symptoms of sneezing, itching, and nasal congestion; inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators reduce inflammation and improve breathing associated with asthma, topical steroids, and emollients help control skin inflammation and maintain hydration for atopic dermatitis.

Managing allergy symptoms with allergen avoidance strategies or immunotherapy can also improve sleep outcomes. Patients can undergo subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy, one with allergen injections and allergen extracts respectively.

Lately, emerging techniques have entered the field: epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) and intralymphatic immunotherapy. Biologics and immunomodulatory agents are being evaluated to improve the immune response during immunotherapy.

“Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms behind this relationship and to develop more effective management strategies for children suffering from both allergic diseases and sleep disorders,” investigators concluded.

Aljaid MS. Allergic Conditions and Their Impact on Pediatric Sleep: A Narrative Review. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2024 Dec;16(Suppl 5):S4205-S4209. doi: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1264_24. Epub 2025 Jan 30. PMID: 40061783; PMCID: PMC11888734.

Alqahtani JM. Asthma and other allergic diseases among Saudi schoolchildren in Najran: the need for a comprehensive intervention program. Ann Saudi Med. 2016 Nov-Dec;36(6):379-385. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2016.379. PMID: 27920408; PMCID: PMC6074205.

AlEidan A, Al-Shamrani M, AlGhofaily M, AlDraiweesh N, AlGhamdi B, AlHabshan H, Kobeisy S, Alharbi S, Al-Shamrani A. Prevalence of sleep problems and habits among children in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Saudi Med J. 2023 Mar;44(3):289-295. doi: 10.15537/smj.2023.44.3.20220894. PMID: 36940968; PMCID: PMC10043900.

Articles

A narrative review reports the connection between allergies and sleep and available treatment options for both conditions.

Narrative Review Links Allergies and Impaired Sleep in Children

This episode focuses on 5 key dermatology updates from the 2025 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI)/World Allergy Organization (WAO) Joint Congress.

HCPLive Five - Dermatology Updates at AAAAI/WAO 2025

With thousands of attendees from around the world, the AAAAI/WAO Joint Congress 2024 in San Diego, California, reaffirmed its role as a premier event in allergy, asthma, immunology, and dermatology. The conference featured hundreds of new abstracts and late-breaking studies, offering critical insights into emerging treatments, disease mechanisms, and patient care strategies.

As part of our on-site coverage, the HCPLive Allergy team reported live from San Diego, conducting expert interviews and capturing key sessions. In this edition of the HCPLive Five, we highlight our video interviews, including discussions on novel biologics for severe asthma, advancements in food allergy immunotherapy, and high-impact clinical trials presented at the meeting.

Updated Treatment Strategies for Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis in 2025, with Ama Alexis, MD


In this video, Ama Alexis, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at NYU Langone and Weill Cornell, discusses the latest updates in pediatric atopic dermatitis and why it's important to be aware of new therapies, understand who may benefit from these therapies, and engage in shared decision making with patients and their families.

Investigating Markers of Early-Onset Atopic Dermatitis, with Amy Eapen, MD

In this video, Amy Eapen, MD, an allergist-immunologist at Henry Ford Health System, discussed her research that found that distinct cord-blood DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns are associated with a risk of early-onset atopic dermatitis by 2 years old. Investigators identified 16 differentially methylated regions linked to early-onset atopic dermatitis.

Confirming Tapinarof’s Efficacy and Safety Across Atopic Dermatitis Severities, with Justin Greiwe, MD


In this video, Justin Greiwe, MD, Bernstein Allergy Group, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, University of Cincinnati, discussed findings from the phase 3 ADORING 1 and 2 trials that demonstrated that tapinarof was well-tolerated and demonstrated consistent efficacy across body regions in people as young as 2 years old with atopic dermatitis.

Achieving Chronic Spontaneous and Inducible Urticaria Control With Barzolvolimab, with Martin Metz, MD


In this video, Martin Metz, MD, a professor at Charité – Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, discussed findings from 2 phase 2 trials that found that barzolvolimab yielded high rates of disease control in patients with CSU and inducible urticaria. He stressed that how it could benefit the treatment landscapes for both CSU and inducible urticaria, especially since there are no therapies currently approved for the latter indication.

Phase 3 Data Supports Dupilumab’s Approval for CSU, with Thomas Casale, MD


In this video, Thomas Casale, MD, professor of internal medicine at Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, discussed data from the phase 3 LIBERTY-CSU CUPID Study A and Study C that demonstrated that dupilumab (Dupixent) reduced itch and urticaria activity in patients with CSU who were uncontrolled with H1-antihistamines, regardless of body mass index.

Counting down the most impactful news at major medical meetings, it’s the HCPLive Five! This episode focuses on 5 key dermatology updates from the 2025 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI)/World Allergy Organization (WAO) Joint Congress.
