Joel Gelfand | |
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Academic background | |
Education | BS, Tufts University MD, Harvard Medical School MSCE, University of Pennsylvania |
Academic work | |
Institutions | Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania |
Joel M. Gelfand is an American dermatologist and epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania. He currently serves as the James J. Leyden Professor in Clinical Investigation,the Vice Chair of Clinical Research,the director of the Psoriasis and Phototherapy Treatment Center,and the medical director of the Clinical Studies Unit in the Department of Dermatology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. [1] He studies systemic comorbidities of psoriasis and much of his research has centered on the connection between cardiovascular disease and psoriasis.
Gelfand graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology at Tufts University,and with an MD degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed a residency in dermatology and received a Master's of Science in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed a predoctoral research fellowship in Dr. Mark Lebwohl's lab and a postdoctoral research fellowship in epidemiology at dermatologist Dr. David Margolis's lab. [2]
In 2003,Gelfand joined the faculty at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In his early career,Gelfand published on the higher rate of cardiovascular events in patients with psoriasis in a database of United Kingdom medical records. In 2006,he published a landmark paper demonstrating that psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction independent of traditional risk factors. [3] He trained cardiologist Dr. Nehal N. Mehta to study the connection between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease,and the two have collaborated extensively on subsequent research. [4]
Gelfand has published over 330 research articles with over 33,000 citations (h-index 92) [5] and is one of the most highly cited researchers in dermatology. [6] [7] His research focuses on the epidemiology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis,the impact of psoriasis on quality of life,and the risk of co-morbidities such as obesity, [8] diabetes, [9] hyperlipidemia,liver disease, [10] kidney disease, [11] [12] cardiovascular events, [13] and mortality [14] associated with psoriasis. [15] Notably,his research has analyzed the epidemiology of palmoplantar pustulosis and generalized pustular psoriasis in the US population, [16] the epidemiology of psoriatic arthritis in the US population, [17] and the prevalence of psoriasis in African Americans. [18] He has run numerous clinical trials,most recently including a trial on the effect of psoriasis medication apremilast on cardiovascular markers including aortic vascular inflammation using techniques pioneered with Abass Alavi, [19] a trial on patient-centered outcomes in phototherapy comparing home-based phototherapy to office-based phototherapy, [20] and a trial of a novel care coordination model to improve cardiovascular risk prevention in psoriasis patients. [4] He is funded by the NIH,PCORI,and the National Psoriasis Foundation amongst others. [21]
Gelfand has also served as part of the editorial board of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology , Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety ,and Journal of Investigative Dermatology ,and as the Chief Medical Editor of Healio Psoriatic Disease . [21]
In 2021,he was named the tenured James J. Leyden Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. [22]
Psoriasis is a long-lasting,noncontagious autoimmune disease characterized by patches of abnormal skin. These areas are red,pink,or purple,dry,itchy,and scaly. Psoriasis varies in severity from small localized patches to complete body coverage. Injury to the skin can trigger psoriatic skin changes at that spot,which is known as the Koebner phenomenon.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a long-term inflammatory arthritis that occurs in people affected by the autoimmune disease psoriasis. The classic feature of psoriatic arthritis is swelling of entire fingers and toes with a sausage-like appearance. This often happens in association with changes to the nails such as small depressions in the nail (pitting),thickening of the nails,and detachment of the nail from the nailbed. Skin changes consistent with psoriasis frequently occur before the onset of psoriatic arthritis but psoriatic arthritis can precede the rash in 15% of affected individuals. It is classified as a type of seronegative spondyloarthropathy.
Alopecia universalis(AU),also known as alopecia areata universalis,is a medical condition involving the loss of all body hair,including eyebrows,eyelashes,chest hair,armpit hair,and pubic hair. It is the most severe form of alopecia areata. People with the disease are usually healthy and have no other symptoms and a normal life expectancy.
Onychomycosis,also known as tinea unguium,is a fungal infection of the nail. Symptoms may include white or yellow nail discoloration,thickening of the nail,and separation of the nail from the nail bed. Fingernails may be affected,but it is more common for toenails. Complications may include cellulitis of the lower leg. A number of different types of fungus can cause onychomycosis,including dermatophytes and Fusarium. Risk factors include athlete's foot,other nail diseases,exposure to someone with the condition,peripheral vascular disease,and poor immune function. The diagnosis is generally suspected based on the appearance and confirmed by laboratory testing.
Alefacept is a genetically engineered immunosuppressive drug. It was sold under the brand name Amevive in Canada,the United States,Israel,Switzerland and Australia. In 2011,the manufacturers made a decision to cease promotion,manufacturing,distribution and sales of Amevive during a supply disruption. According to Astellas Pharma US,Inc.,the decision to cease Amevive sales was neither the result of any specific safety concern nor the result of any FDA-mandated or voluntary product recall. On the other hand,usage of Amevive was associated with a certain risk of development systemic diseases such as malignancies. This drug was never approved for the European drug market.
A TNF inhibitor is a pharmaceutical drug that suppresses the physiologic response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF),which is part of the inflammatory response. TNF is involved in autoimmune and immune-mediated disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis,ankylosing spondylitis,inflammatory bowel disease,psoriasis,hidradenitis suppurativa and refractory asthma,so TNF inhibitors may be used in their treatment. The important side effects of TNF inhibitors include lymphomas,infections,congestive heart failure,demyelinating disease,a lupus-like syndrome,induction of auto-antibodies,injection site reactions,and systemic side effects.
The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is one of the world's largest nonprofit organization serving people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The NPF provides information and services to help people manage their condition while supporting research to find a cure. In addition to serving more than 3 million people annually through patient and professional health education and advocacy initiatives,the NPF has funded more than $10 million in psoriatic disease research grants and fellowships.
Ustekinumab, sold under the brand name Stelara among others,is a monoclonal antibody medication developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals,for the treatment of Crohn's disease,ulcerative colitis,plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis,targeting both IL-12 and IL-23.
Arthritis mutilans is a rare medical condition involving severe inflammation damaging the joints of the hands and feet,and resulting in deformation and problems with moving the affected areas;it can also affect the spine. As an uncommon arthropathy,arthritis mutilans was originally described as affecting the hands,feet,fingers,and/or toes,but can refer in general to severe derangement of any joint damaged by arthropathy. First described in modern medical literature by Marie and Leri in 1913,in the hands,arthritis mutilans is also known as opera glass hand,or chronic absorptive arthritis. Sometimes there is foot involvement in which toes shorten and on which painful calluses develop in a condition known as opera glass foot,or pied en lorgnette.
Psoriatic onychodystrophy or psoriatic nails is a nail disease. It is common in those with psoriasis,with reported incidences varying from 10% to 78%. Elderly patients and those with psoriatic arthritis are more likely to have psoriatic nails.
Psoriatic erythroderma represents a form of psoriasis that affects all body sites,including the face,hands,feet,nails,trunk,and extremities. This specific form of psoriasis affects 3 percent of persons diagnosed with psoriasis. First-line treatments for psoriatic erythroderma include immunosuppressive medications such as methotrexate,acitretin,or ciclosporin.
Tofacitinib,sold under the brand Xeljanz among others,is a medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis,psoriatic arthritis,ankylosing spondylitis,polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis,and ulcerative colitis. It is a janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor,discovered and developed by the National Institutes of Health and Pfizer.
Ixekizumab,sold under the brand name Taltz,is an injectable medication for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Chemically,it is a form of a humanized monoclonal antibody. The substance acts by binding interleukin 17A and neutralizing it,reducing inflammation.
Secukinumab,sold under the brand name Cosentyx among others,is a human IgG1κmonoclonal antibody used for the treatment of psoriasis,ankylosing spondylitis,and psoriatic arthritis. It binds to the protein interleukin (IL)-17A and is marketed by Novartis.
Goeckerman therapy is a regimen for treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis using a combination of crude coal tar and artificial ultraviolet radiation. It is a specialized form of light therapy.
Mark G. Lebwohl is an American dermatologist and author who is Professor and Chairman Emeritus of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology and the Dean for Clinical Therapeutics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Apremilast,sold under the brand name Otezla among others,is a medication for the treatment of certain types of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The drug acts as a selective inhibitor of the enzyme phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) and inhibits spontaneous production of TNF-alpha from human rheumatoid synovial cells. It is taken by mouth.
Guselkumab,sold under the brand name Tremfya,is a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-23 used for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.
Nicholas J Lowe is an English dermatologist who has published research into skin pharmacology,botulinum toxins,injectable filler and Lasers in cutaneous and cosmetic Surgery.
Nehal N. Mehta,is an American cardiologist at the National Heart,Lung,and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in Bethesda,Maryland where he studies the role of innate immunity and inflammation in the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.