Second Update on Psoriatic Disease

Abstract

This supplement comprises the proceedings of the Second Update on Psoriatic Disease, a conference held at the University Federico II Congress Center, Via Partenope 36, Naples, Italy, July 6–7, 2011. The ancient university city of Naples (University Federico II, one of the oldest in Europe, dates from the early 13th century) provided a stimulating and attractive conference backdrop. This conference represented a followup of the first update (Procida Update of Psoriatic Disease) held at the Orphans’ Conservatory of Terra Murata on the island of Procida in the Gulf of Naples, May 22–24, 2008. Proceedings of that conference appeared as a supplement to the Journal of Rheumatology in August 2009 (Volume 36: Supplement 83). And that conference in turn followed a similar conference on psoriatic disease (PsD) held at the University Federico II Congress Center in Naples in 2006; proceedings were published the following year as a supplement to Reumatismo (Volume 59: Supplement 1). These 3 conferences, with their common thread of PsD, have been pivotal in introducing, expanding, and consolidating the concept of psoriasis as central in a group of associated conditions, in addition to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) itself. Accordingly, PsD is now considered a wider expression of psoriasis and PsA than had been previously realized; albeit still strongly within the spondyloarthropathy (SpA) complex and as an essential member of the group. PsD is thus characterized by overlapping links with other members of the SpA complex, and their spondylitic, ocular, intestinal, and genitourinary features. A central figure in promoting the PsD concept has been Professor Raffaele Scarpa, head of the Rheumatism Research Unit at the Policlinico, University of Naples. He and his team work across a wide range of rheumatology-orientated specialties. His staff is associated with an Early Psoriatic Arthritis Clinic, a much-needed and forward-looking clinical and research facility. By …