Bariatric Surgery Linked With Psoriasis Improvement
Most patients with psoriasis experienced clinical improvement or remission after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) in a systematic review.
METHODOLOGY:
Researchers conducted a systematic review of 14 studies that included 169 patients (mean age, 46.8 years; 74% women) with psoriasis who underwent MBS.
Participants underwent various surgical procedures; gastric bypass was the most common (75.1%), followed by sleeve gastrectomy (17.8%), gastric banding (5.3%), and jejunoileal bypass (0.6%). Psoriasis treatments prior to surgery included topical treatments (46.2%), non-biologic systemic treatments (35.5%), and biologics (16.6%).
At baseline, psoriasis severity was predominantly moderate (76.3%); 8.2% were severe and 15.6% were mild cases, based on psoriasis area and severity index and percent body surface area scores.
TAKEAWAY:
Average body mass index (BMI) decreased from 43.7 at baseline to 32.9after surgery, with BMI reduction ranging from 8 to 25 during follow-up periods of 4 months to 9 years.
Psoriasis was either mild or had completely resolved in 97.2% of patients after bariatric surgery, whereas 2.4% experienced worsening of psoriasis.
A total of 78.1% of patients continued psoriasis treatment post-surgery, but medications were downgraded to a lower category (such as systemic to topical treatments, or no treatment) in many patients.
IN PRACTICE:
'MBS may improve psoriasis outcomes following surgery,' the study authors wrote. 'While initial findings are promising, further controlled trials are necessary to validate the long-term effects of MBS on psoriasis and explore its potential role as an adjunctive therapy.'
SOURCE:
The study was led by Miranda K. Branyiczky, BSc, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and was published online on May 24 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology .
LIMITATIONS:
Limitations were reporting bias, variability in outcome measures, and the inclusion of case reports or series.
DISCLOSURES:
This study did not receive any funding. One author reported receiving grants, research support, speaker fees, and honoraria from multiple pharmaceutical companies including AbbVie, Alumis, Amgen, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, and Pfizer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2 Biotech Stocks to Buy Before They Soar 84% and 240%, According to Certain Wall Street Analysts
These biotech companies have several catalysts ahead -- and in the past have soared on good news. They both offer innovative candidates that could result in game-changing treatments for patients. 10 stocks we like better than Viking Therapeutics › If you're looking to add growth to your portfolio, biotech stocks can be a great choice. Exciting research is happening in these companies' labs, and in some cases, game-changing treatment candidates are approaching important milestones or even going over the finish line. As an investor in these companies, you can benefit as they report positive clinical trial news, score a regulatory approval, or start generating product revenue. Wall Street considers two candidates extremely compelling right now, with forecasts for potential gains of more than 80% and 200% in the coming 12 months. One of these players is working in the high-growth area of weight loss drugs, and the other candidate showed its strengths by winning the world's first-ever approval of a product based on CRISPR gene editing. Let's check out these two biotech stocks to buy before they skyrocket. Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) soared early last year when it reported strong data from the phase 2 trial of its weight loss candidate, VK2735, but the stock has since given back those gains and is trading closer to the level it was at prior to that data announcement. Since, the company has continued to advance VK2735 in injectable form and a version in pill form, and demand for these sorts of drugs remains high -- these are two reasons to believe that Viking has the potential to take off again. And catalysts may be on the horizon. The drug works in a manner similar to Eli Lilly's blockbuster tirzepatide, sold under the names Mounjaro and Zepbound. These drugs interact with hormones involved in digestion and have helped people quickly and safely lose weight. Viking is beginning the phase 3 trial for injectable VK2735 in the second quarter and expects data from its phase 2 trial of the pill version in the second half. Any data announcements could result in big moves for the stock, as there is plenty of room for a new company to enter the weight loss drug market -- one forecast to approach $100 billion in a few years. Wall Street is optimistic about Viking's prospects, with the average price forecast predicting an increase of about 240% in the stock price from today's level. Of course, Viking depends heavily on the outcome of these trials, so some risk is involved -- but data have been strong, so growth investors may want to get in on Viking now to potentially post a big win later. CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) stock surged in the year leading up to a major milestone: its first product approval. But since last year's launch of Casgevy, a gene-editing treatment for blood disorders, the stock has been on the decline. Sometimes, investors buy a stock well before the company wins approval or launches a product, then lock in gains after the good news lands -- and I think this is what's happened here. But what this does is offer us a chance to get in at a very good price on a promising company that could deliver fantastic news down the road. Casgevy, as a gene-editing treatment, requires a longer time to roll out than a pill or injection, as it includes several steps that happen over a period of months. The company recently said new patient initiations should increase "significantly" this year -- so there's reason to be optimistic about revenue growth ahead. CRISPR Therapeutics also recently reported positive phase 1 data for a gene editing candidate addressing the problem of high cholesterol. And the company expects to report data soon from a phase 1 trial of a candidate targeting patients with elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) -- a risk factor for cardiovascular events. These could represent huge markets for CRISPR Therapeutics if the candidates reach the finish line, and in the meantime, any potential positive news could boost the stock. The company also expects other trial updates in candidates for oncology and autoimmune diseases this year -- so this biotech's calendar is full of possible catalysts. Wall Street's average price forecast calls for an 84% gain for CRISPR Therapeutics from today's price -- if all goes well in clinical trials and Casgevy starts to show revenue growth, now could represent a golden buying opportunity for growth investors. Before you buy stock in Viking Therapeutics, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Viking Therapeutics wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $664,089!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $881,731!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 994% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Adria Cimino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends CRISPR Therapeutics. The Motley Fool recommends Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Biotech Stocks to Buy Before They Soar 84% and 240%, According to Certain Wall Street Analysts was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Oscar Health (OSCR) Soars 13% on Fourth Straight Day, Here's Why
Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR) is one of the Oscar Health extended its winning streak to a fourth consecutive day on Friday, jumping 13.05 percent to close at $21.22 apiece as investor sentiment was influenced by the previous days' surge. During the shortened, four-day trading week, shares of Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR) already grew by 52 percent, with analysts pointing to meme trading as having buoyed its share prices. Additionally, investor sentiment was supported by a new proposal for Medicare that would allow individuals and employers to enroll in a new version called 'Part E.' A close up of a patient and a healthcare professional engaging in conversation, showing the company's commitment to patient care. While this would heighten competition with private insurers such as Oscar Health, Inc. (NYSE:OSCR), the voluntary enrollment could potentially delay or prevent Medicare's sooner-than-expected insolvency. While we acknowledge the potential of OSCR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
Population-Level Weight Loss Seen With Primary Care Protocol
CHICAGO — Encouraging patients to talk with their primary care physicians about weight management led to increased visits for obesity, population-wide weight loss, and increased revenue, researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine (CU Anschutz) reported here at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions. The researchers presented data from a 4-year study of the PATHWEIGH protocol, which was implemented at 56 primary care clinics across Colorado. Ultimately, 274,182 patients were part of the study, which has not yet been published. Although weight loss was low in the intervention group — 0.1 kg at 18 months — the intervention eliminated the typical expected weight gain population-wide. And indeed, that weight gain was about 0.1 kg in those who did not receive the intervention. "Our data is the first to scale an intervention to more than a quarter of a million people and prevent population weight gain," said Leigh Perreault, MD, associate professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes at CU Anschutz, who presented the data. Using a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial design, researchers randomized clinics to offer usual care or the intervention. Each clinic eventually moved to using the intervention. Patients who received usual care would have visits during which weight could be discussed but clinicians did not have access to PATHWEIGH tools. Those who received the intervention had weight-specific visits and their doctors had access to the protocol. The Colorado group created PATHWEIGH to help primary care physicians fill the gap in obesity care in the face of growing numbers of overweight and obese Americans. Patients in the usual care or intervention group were alerted to the opportunity to have a weight-prioritized visit with their primary care physician. In the intervention group, patients were asked to complete a weight-management questionnaire before the visit, which the physician could then use as a prompt to talk with the patient during the visit. Researchers also provided clinicians with specialized support tools, education, and most importantly, a weight-specific template embedded in the electronic medical record. The template allowed for diagnosis, documentation of a weight-related discussion (for reimbursement), and orders for referrals, tests, and procedures, which streamlined workflow and made it easier to help patients, said Perreault. Physicians were asked to follow up with patients at least every 4 to 6 weeks. Use of the tools was optional, however. This meant that patients in the intervention group could get usual care with or without PATHWEIGH. At baseline, the mean age of patients was 54 years. About 53% were female, and 78% were non-Hispanic White, 11% Latino, 4% Black, and 2% Asian. Two thirds had commercial insurance and about a third were Medicare enrollees. Mean BMI was 31 kg/m2. At the end of the 4-year study, researchers found only about 25% of patients with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or more received any discernible care for their weight, said Perreault. Discernible care might include adequate counseling about diet, exercise, and behavioral modification, referral to a dietitian or bariatric surgeon, or prescription of an anti-obesity medication. More people in the intervention group received such care. Those most likely to receive care had a BMI of at least 25 kg/m2, tended to be closer to age 50, were commercially insured, and were Latino or Black. However, said Perreault, an A1c in the prediabetes range, an estimated glomerular filtration rate in the stage 2 chronic kidney disease range, or the presence of a weight-related disease or complication did not prompt clinicians to offer help. Patients who did receive weight-related care during the intervention lost 2.37 kg more than those in the intervention group who received no care. Getting any sort of help with weight management made a difference, even outside the intervention. Those who received usual care offered weight management assistance lost 1.73 kg more than patients in the usual care group who received no care. Perreault said that providers spent no extra time on weight-prioritized visits and that using weight-related International Classification of Diseases 10 codes added more than $15 million to the health system's revenues over the 4-year study. PATHWEIGH outreach also resulted in "more than twice as many" visits for weight management, she said. 'Monumental' But Not 'Hugely Successful' "This is monumental work," said Ildiko Lingvay, MD, MPH, MSCS, a professor of internal medicine at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, who chaired the session during which the study results were presented. Changing population weight by a pound is "like moving mountains," she said. However, added Lingvay, "It's not that I think this intervention was hugely successful." She's excited to see how the intervention works as it is adopted by others. Robert Kushner, MD, MS, a professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, offered the Colorado group "a big congratulations." "This is a really tough nut to crack," said Kushner, who was asked for comment. "There are significant barriers and challenges to treating obesity in primary care," he said. Many approaches basically remove the primary care physician from the equation by diverting patients to online platforms, coaching, or self-help, or weight-loss programs. "Embedding" the primary care physician is "the road less taken, to be honest," said Kushner, which PATHWEIGH successfully does. And it is an "innovative program for a healthcare system, population-level approach to the management of obesity." Looking ahead, the researchers should determine how to increase both clinician and patient engagement, said Kushner. It would also be useful to examine what triggers referrals to other services and to assess clinical outcomes and mediators of weight change, he said. Lastly, researchers should "determine the use and effectiveness of obesity medications. That's extremely important in the day we live," said Kushner. The study was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Perreault has disclosed receiving personal fees for speaking and/or consulting from Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ascendis, Medscape, WebMD, and UpToDate. Lingvay has reported consulting for AbbVie, Altimmune, Amgen, Alveus, Antag Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Betagenon, Bioio, Biomea, Boehringer Ingelheim, Carmot, Cytoki Pharma, Eli Lilly, Intercept, Janssen/J&J, Juvena, Keros Ther, Novo Nordisk, PharmaVentures, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi, Shionogi, Source Bio, Structure Therapeutics, Target RWE, Terns Pharmaceuticals, The Comm Group, WebMD, and Zealand Pharma. Kushner has reported no conflicts related to PATHWEIGH but disclosed being a board member for Altimmune, Currax, Novo Nordisk, Structure Therapeutics, and Weight Watchers International, and a consultant for Eli Lilly and Regeneron.
