George Kroumpouzos
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Exp Dermatol Res
Chronic inflammation in skin diseases with a Th1-associated cytokine profile that includes a high expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-�±), such as psoriasis, lichen planus (LP), and granuloma annulare (GA), may trigger DLP or be a consequence of it. The aforementioned diseases, as well as necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum and the granulomatous variant of chronic pigmented purpuric dermatosis, have been associated with DLP. Treatment of DLP has been associated with a clinical improvement in psoriasis, and TNF-�± inhibitors, which are helpful in psoriasis and GA, have shown beneficial effects on serum lipids. In a recent case-control study by the author that included 140 patients with GA, GA patients had 4 times the odds of developing DLP compared to controls. In the same study, the extent and annular lesion morphology of GA were associated with DLP. DLP is one of the components of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), and MetSyn has been associated with psoriasis. Furthermore, psoriasis has been associated with other components of MetSyn, such as diabetes, and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Modification of CVD factors is indicated in psoriasis patients. The relationship of other DLP-associated diseases, such as LP and GA, with MetSyn needs to be investigated, as well as whether these diseases may serve as a risk factor for CVD.
George Kroumpouzos, MD, Ph.D., FAAD, is Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and former Instructor at the Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School. He is certified by both American and European Boards of Dermatology. His expertise is in the fields of obstetric dermatology, adverse drug reactions, connective tissue disease, complex medical dermatology, and disorders of pigmentation. He is an Editorial Board Member in three peer-reviewed dermatologic journals, and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Dr. Kroumpouzos has delivered numerous lectures in the US and internationally. He has been the recipient of several scholarships and awards, including awards by the International Union against Cancer and the Dean? s Award at Brown Medical School.
