New Advances In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Inherited And Acquired Blistering Skin Diseases

Main Category: Dermatology
Article Date: 01 Dec 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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More than 220 clinicians, researchers and allied health professionals from Guy's and St Thomas' and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts and King's College London came together for a Biomedical Forum to hear about the advances being made in the understanding of blistering skin diseases at the three organisations and how these will translate to improved patient care.

Blistering skin conditions can have a serious impact on the quality of life of people living with them, and there is an urgent need to improve the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

Cutting-edge translational research is taking place within the cutaneous medicine theme of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' and King's College London.

Consultant Dermatologists Professor John McGrath and Dr. Richard Groves explained how the study of proteins at the junction between the epidermal and dermal skin layers, and the genes that encode them, is revealing clinically relevant information about both inherited and acquired blistering skin diseases and leading to new diagnostic tests. For example, recombinant proteins are being used to develop new rapid tests requiring only tiny blood or tissue samples that will facilitate diagnosis and management of patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) acquisita, an acquired autoimmune skin condition.

During the Biomedical Forum, Professor McGrath discussed how advanced molecular techniques have been used to identify specific genetic defects in the basement membrane of babies with inherited EB and to make a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis.

He said: "Being able to accurately diagnose the form of inherited EB, from mild to the most lethal forms, is a huge step forward for families affected by these conditions. This work is already translating into real clinical advances. As a result of improved testing, more than 100 babies with no signs of inherited EB have been identified following pre-natal testing to families at risk of genetically determined skin disease."

Other exciting translational research taking place within the Biomedical Research Centre is focusing on the development of cell based therapies for dystrophic EB. Clinical trials of cell based gene therapy have already taken place, with encouraging results demonstrating increased collagen deposition in dystrophic EB patients - and it is now hoped that this will lead to the development of a variety of novel treatments for patients with this condition.

Dr. Richard Groves said: "Our work is already accelerating the rate at which we can make meaningful advances for our patients. Increasingly we are moving cutting-edge preclinical research into clinical applications that bring new gene, protein and cell-based therapies and diagnostic techniques to patients with some of the most serious and debilitating blistering skin conditions."

During the Biomedical Forum Professor Frank Nestle, joint theme lead with Richard Groves, thanked the Biomedical Research Centre for its support of translational research in dermatology and stressed the importance of a close interface between staff in the clinic and the laboratory to drive change.

To find out more about the translational research taking place within the comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, visit: http://www.biomedicalresearchcentre.org

Guy's and St Thomas' provides around ¾ million patient contacts in acute and specialist hospital services every year. As one of the biggest NHS Trusts in the UK, it employs over 9,000 staff. The Trust works in partnership with the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Biomedical Sciences of King's College London and other Higher Education Institutes to deliver high quality education and research. Website: http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk.

King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts are working together to create a world-leading Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC). Our AHSC brings together an unrivalled range and depth of clinical and research expertise, spanning both physical and mental health. Our combined strengths will drive improvements in care for patients, allowing them to benefit from breakthroughs in medical science and receive leading edge treatment at the earliest possible opportunity. For more information, visit http://www.londonsahsc.org.