Andrew Talal, MD, is a Professor of Medicine and Founder/Director of the Center for Research and Clinical Care in Liver Disease at the State University of New York at Buffalo - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Experts Discuss Advances in Pathophysiology of Hepatitis B Virus for 2024

Advances in Pathophysiology of Hepatitis B Virus for 2024

In recognition of May 19 as World Hepatitis Testing Day and the month of May as Hepatitis Awareness Month, we are launching our latest 

, which spotlights a conversation between subject matter experts on updates and unmet needs in the management of 

Although not discussed with the same frequency and urgency as 

 within public health circles, HBV represents a significant impact to public health globally and within the US, where an estimated 2.4 million are chronically infected, because unlike with HCV, there is no cure for these chronically infected patients. However, like HCV, the ongoing opioid crisis in the US has contributed to ballooning rates of acute hepatitis B infection in recent years and only 25% of infected individuals receive a diagnosis, according to the Hepatitis B Foundation.

The first in our 6-part series, this segment opens with introductions from our 3 subject matter experts, which is followed by a discussion on updates in pathophysiology and how they have influenced current care strategies for HBV. In the conversation, Nancy Reau, MD, explains how recent advancements have clarified the virus's lifecycle, which has contributed to the development of new diagnostics that, while not yet fully available in clinical practice, are poised to significantly enhance treatment by identifying better therapeutic targets and monitoring treatment success. Andrew Talal, MD, adds to the discussion by highlighting the importance of the updated World Health Organization and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Talal stresses the significance of expanded treatment eligibility, particularly for adolescents and adults, broader antiviral treatment options, and the role of enhanced diagnostics in improving patient outcomes.

This conversation sets the stage for a detailed exploration of the latest therapeutic strategies and the most pressing unmet needs in the fight against hepatitis B, providing valuable insights for clinicians and researchers committed to advancing care in this field.

In this 6-part discussion, our group of experts tackles the following topics:

Advances in Pathophysiology of Hepatitis B Virus

Implications of HBV DNA Integration on Care

Improving Hepatitis B Screening and Vaccination

Therapeutic Pipeline Updates in Hepatitis B Virus

Role of Advocacy, Patient Voice in Hepatitis B Virus

Nancy Reau, MD: Richard B. Capps Chair of Hepatology, Associate Director of Solid Organ Transplantation, and Section Chief of Hepatology at Rush University Medical Center.

Andrew Talal, MD: Professor of Medicine and Founder/Director of the Center for Research and Clinical Care in Liver Disease at the State University of New York at Buffalo - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

In this segment of our 6-part discussion on updates and unmet needs within the management of hepatitis B virus focuses on advances in the pathophysiology of hepatitis b virus for 2024.

Andrew Talal, MD

Measuring Patient Satisfaction with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatments and Communication Regarding Treatment Changes 

How do you evaluate patients’ satisfaction and expectations when providing care for UC and CD?

How do you discuss with patients the idea of escalating/switching therapy, perhaps in the absence of symptoms, and target something they may not feel?

Silvio Danese, MD, PhD; Bruce Sands, MD, and Jean-Frederic Colombel, MD, conclude by sharing their approaches to evaluating patient satisfaction and expectations when providing care for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, while also touching upon the importance of discussing the potential need for escalating or switching therapies to better manage the underlying disease processes. 

Bruce Sands, MD 

Anti-VEGF for RVO: The Gold Standard

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John W Kitchens, MD, bookends the discussion by highlighting the landscape of branch vein occlusion (BRVO) treatment options. 

Anti-VEGF for RVO: The Gold Standard 

Carl D. Regillo, MD, FACS

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to an increase in embolic strokes and thus most patients with AF will be prescribed anticoagulants to decrease this incidence.

AF is frequent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) with estimates ranging from 16-21% in non-dialysis patient and up to 40% in dialysis patients.1 AF is associated with both worse cardiac and kidney outcomes with an increased risk of CKD progression.

 The incidence of stroke in End Stage Kidney Disease (ESRD) is 7-9 times greater than in the general population and 3-fold more deadly.

For many years, warfarin was the drug of choice to decrease strokes in all populations but serum monitoring requirements, diet restrictions and narrow therapeutic window led to multiple complications. With the introduction of the direct oral anticoagulant (DOACs) medications, the complication rate in AF was significantly decreased.

As is true for most drug trials, patients with severe CKD (defined as an eGFR 

25 ml/min) were excluded from the DOAC trials.

 This is not unexpected; kidney patients have multiple comorbidities and are treated with multiple medications.

These comorbidities and medications add a level of complexity to the evaluation of adverse events during a drug trial. Yet, for a population where close to half of the population has AF, we do not have answers about the use of DOACs.

As there is no guidance from the pivotal DOAC trials for the CKD and ESRD patients, the kidney community has undertaken the collection of data from real world use of DOACs. We know that acute kidney injury (AKI) is significantly lower with the use of DOACs vs warfarin.

This is true for all stages of CKD, even in the elderly.

Using a meta-analysis approach, we have seen that DOACs have a better safety and effectiveness profile than warfarin.

 For this reason, the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) expert workgroup has developed recommendations for use of DOACs in CKD.

Yet, there is still a population that KDIGO recommendations did not address: the ESRD patient.

In the kidney failure patient, the incidence of AF is 40% and the stroke and sudden cardiac death are common.

 While cardiology defers to nephrology when treating ESRD, nephrology is divided on optimal treatment for this population. Most trials are retrospective and observational. However, recently randomized, controlled trials have been conducted.

With the most recent trial data available, the consensus is that warfarin is the most dangerous for this population whether it is used for AF prophylaxis or treatment for recurrent thromboembolism.

 Warfarin increases the incidence of bleeding without decreasing mortality. Two other large trials looking at DOAC vs warfarin both showed a better safety profile for apixaban but there were significant episodes of bleeding in the dialysis population.

 For this reason, the recently closed preliminary trial of three separate trial arms, which examine apixaban, warfarin, and no treatment, respectively, is being closely watched.

This Canadian/Australian trial included 151 participants and is a pilot to evaluate if we should 

 be treating the dialysis population with anticoagulants. The trial was completed in late December 2022. Results are pending.

If, as expected, the no treatment arm has a similar outcome profile with less bleeding complications, we will have to reassess our mantra of 

 while we stop treating the AF patient on dialysis with anticoagulants. A definite relearn for all of us.

Wanner C, Herzog CA, Turakhia MP; Conference Steering Committee. Chronic kidney disease and arrhythmias: highlights from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference. 

Bobot M, Suissa L, Hak JF, et al. Kidney disease and stroke: epidemiology and potential mechanisms of susceptibility. 

Garlo KG, Steele DJR, Nigwekar SU, et al. Demystifying the Benefits and Harms of Anticoagulation for Atrial Fibrillation in Chronic Kidney Disease. 

Harel Z, McArthur E, Jeyakumar N, et al. The Risk of Acute Kidney Injury with Oral Anticoagulants in Elderly Adults with Atrial Fibrillation. 

Malhotra K, Ishfaq MF, Goyal N, et al. Oral anticoagulation in patients with chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 

Wetmore JB, Herzog CA, Yan H, et al. Apixaban versus Warfarin for Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients Receiving Long-Term Dialysis. 

Mavrakanas TA. Should Oral Anticoagulation Be Used in ESKD Patients on Hemodialysis with Atrial Fibrillation?: COMMENTARY. 

Pokorney SD, Chertow GM, Al-Khalidi HR, et al for the RENAL-AF Investigators. Apixaban for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation on Hemodialysis: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. 

Reinecke H, Engelbertz C, Bauersachs R, et al. A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Apixaban With the Vitamin K Antagonist Phenprocoumon in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis: The AXADIA-AFNET 8 Study. 

Strategies for the management of atrial fibrillation in patients receiving dialysis (Safe-D) ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03987711

Kim Zuber, PA-C, and Jane Davis, DNP, offer insight into the use of DOACs in people with atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease. 

Using DOACs in People with Chronic Kidney Disease, with Kim Zuber, PA-C, and Jane Davis, DNP

Debra Davis, CRNP

Hersh Shroff, MD, MPA, is a transplant hepatologist and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Discussion between 3 subject matter experts on the impact of stigmatization on delays in diagnosis of alcohol-related liver disease.

HCPLive Alcohol Stigma Discussion Part 1

Recent years have seen a drastic increase in alcohol use in the United States. Alongside this growing prevalence has come an influx of severe morbidity and mortality linked to 

, with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism citing alcohol’s involvement in nearly half of all liver disease deaths among people 12 years of age and older in 2022 and labeling alcohol as one of the leading causes of preventable death.

Many cases of ALD are rooted in underlying 

, a medical condition involving frequent or heavy alcohol consumption that often requires an individualized treatment approach with a combination of medication, behavioral interventions, and mutual support groups. According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 29.5 million people ages 12 and older had AUD in the past year. Of this group, 2.2 million received alcohol use treatment.

Although it is a mental health disorder, AUD’s role in the development and progression of ALD underscores the importance of its treatment alongside medical intervention for the liver and other potential negative physical impacts of alcohol use. However, it tends to fall by the wayside due to a number of patient, clinician, and system barriers, many of which are linked to the stigma surrounding AUD and its negative impact on patients’ willingness to seek care as well as clinicians’ ability to provide adequate care.

In this HCPLive special report, our moderator, Hersh Shroff, MD, MPA, is joined by Jay Luther, MD, and Chris Kahler, PhD, to discuss the stigmatization of AUD. The first segment of their conversation focuses on defining stigma, both at the public and structural level, and outlining its role in delaying and hindering care for these patients.

Shroff introduces the topic and poses a question to Kahler about the different forms and definitions of stigma and how public perception of AUD may contribute to delays in seeking care. Kahler responds by describing stigma as a “complex construct,” explaining its manifestation at both social structural levels and individual levels as well as how the stigma surrounding AUD may lead patients to underreport their alcohol consumption, avoid discussing concerns with their clinician, and hesitate to seek care from a specialist.

Shroff expresses agreement with Kahler’s response and poses a similar question to Luther, this time inquiring about how structural stigma in the health care system perpetuates disparities for patients with ALD. Similar to Shroff, Luther notes he agrees with Kahler’s response and mentions how certain aspects of this individualized stigma are also present at a greater structural level.

He goes on to describe how the disease has been labeled, pointing to inherent problems with the terms alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic hepatitis and how the term “alcoholic” contributes to the ongoing stigma in ways clinicians may not even realize. Structurally, Luther notes that there has been little to no overlap between the treatment of liver disease and the treatment of alcohol addiction, forcing patients to see different specialists and potentially making them feel as though they are being judged or blamed for their alcohol use.

However, Luther goes on to explain how some institutions, including his own, are taking strides to combat this structural stigma by incorporating what he calls a “team approach” with combined efforts from a hepatologist, an addiction specialist, and a social worker whose shared goal is to “get you feeling better to get you healthier.”

Check out the second half of the discussion:

Addressing Stigma to Improve Outcomes in Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

 a transplant hepatologist and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine

 an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Alcohol Liver Center

 a professor of behavioral and social sciences, a professor of psychiatry and human behavior, and the director of the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University

Shroff, Luther, and Kahler have no relevant disclosures.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol Use in the United States: Age Groups and Demographic Characteristics. Alcohol’s Effects on Health. 2023. Accessed April 30, 2024. 

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-use-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol and the Human Body. Alcohol’s Effects on Health. 2024. Accessed April 30, 2024. 

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-and-human-body

Cleveland Clinic. Alcohol Use Disorder. Diseases & Conditions. June 2, 2021. Accessed April 30, 2024. 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3909-alcoholism

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the United States: Age Groups and Demographic Characteristics. Alcohol’s Effects on Health. 2023. Accessed April 30, 2024. 

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-use-disorder-aud-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics

In the first segment of this HCPLive special report, experts discuss the stigma surrounding alcohol use disorder and alcohol-associated liver disease.

Recognizing Stigma's Impact on Care for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

Hersh Shroff, MD, MPA

LB-102 Significantly Improves Disease Severity in Acute Schizophrenia, with John Kane, MD

LB Pharmaceuticals announced additional positive data from NOVA, a phase 2 study evaluating LB-102 in acute 

, at the 2025 Annual Congress of the Schizophrenia International Research Society held in Chicago from March 29 to April 2.

 LB-102 provided significant improvement in disease severity, as demonstrated by the mean change from baseline in Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S) scores.

At week 4, participants on 50 mg of LB-102 (n = 107) achieved a mean change in baseline CGI-S score of -0.72 compared with placebo (

= .0008). For LB-102 doses 75 mg (n = 108) and 100 mg (n = 36), participants achieved a mean change in CGI-S from baseline of -0.67 (

This announcement followed the company’s

on January 8, 2025, stating that NOVA met its primary endpoint, with LB-102 significantly reducing the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total scores over 4 weeks in adults with acute schizophrenia compared to placebo.

Already, LB-102, a once-daily oral benzamide antipsychotic targeting both positive and negative symptoms, was evaluated in NOVA, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial with 359 adults aged 18 – 55 years who had a DSM-5 diagnosis of acutely exacerbated schizophrenia. NOVA’s primary endpoint was the change from baseline in the PANSS total score at day 28, and secondary endpoints included improvements in CGI, PANSS subscales, Marder Factor scores, safety and tolerability, and pharmacokinetics. Participants were randomized 3:3:3:1 to receive placebo or LB-102 at daily doses of 50 mg, 75 mg, or 100 mg for 4 weeks.

 recently spoke with lead investigator John M. Kane, MD, professor of psychiatry and molecular medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, about the new data on improved CGI-S scores.

“This is another perspective that helps clinicians evaluate the efficacy of a medication, and the PANSS total score reflects results on specific items, and the CGI is really a measure of overall severity,” Kane explained. “And so, we see patients moving from one level of severity to a lower level…That's a very good clinical indicator.”

During the interview, Kane provided insight into the tolerability of LB-102 compared to 6 existing psychotics in terms of prolactin levels, weight gain, and extrapyramidal symptoms. Some patients on LB-102 experienced increased prolactin levels, but despite this, very few led to breast enlargement or erectile dysfunction. Very few patients experienced extrapyramidal symptoms, and while some experienced weight gain, it was not a lot.

When asked in what scenarios Kane might recommend LB-102 over current first—or second-line agents, he said it depends on trial results. LB-102 had already been successful as a first-line agent in trial participants.

People can also try LB-102 if they do not respond to other drugs. There are no current medications to treat negative symptoms of schizophrenia, so research may find LB-102 could manage these symptoms.

“We're also thinking about the maintenance effects, what are the characteristics of this medication over time, in terms of patient improvement, acceptability, and continuation,” Kane said. “…to me, that's really important. Most patients will be candidates to continue an antipsychotic medication for long periods of time, and how the drug performs over time is going to be very important. From what we've seen with amisulpride…the possibilities for LB-102 are very encouraging.”

Relevant disclosures for Kane include Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals, H. Lundbeck, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Alkermes, and Boehringer Ingelheim, among others.

LB Pharmaceuticals Presents New Data from Phase 2 Clinical Trial of LB-102 at the 2025 Annual Congress of the Schizophrenia International Research Society. GlobeNewswire. March 31, 2025. 

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/03/31/3052289/0/en/LB-Pharmaceuticals-Presents-New-Data-from-Phase-2-Clinical-Trial-of-LB-102-at-the-2025-Annual-Congress-of-the-Schizophrenia-International-Research-Society.html

Derman, C. Phase 2 LB-102 Data, Advancing Treatment Landscape in Schizophrenia, with John Kane, MD. HCPLive. January 10, 2025. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/phase-2-lb-102-data-advancing-treatment-landscape-in-schizophrenia-with-john-kane-md

HCPLive spoke with Kane about new phase 2 data showing that an oral benzamide provides a significant change from baseline in CGI-S scores for participants with acute schizophrenia.


John Kane, MD

The panel discusses the mechanism of treatment-emergent hypophosphatemia that occurs following the administration of certain intravenous iron formulations.

Treatment-Emergent Hypophosphatemia Following Administration of Intravenous Iron

Video content above is prompted by the following:

Treatment-emergent hypophosphatemia is now widely recognized as a phenomenon that can occur following administration of certain IV iron formulations and within the first 2 weeks after administration. Can you discuss the mechanism of treatment-emergent hypophosphatemia?

Jordan Axelrad, MD, MPH

Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH, is a cardiologist specializing in cardiorenal metabolism at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA. Vaduganathan is a member of Practical Cardiology's advisory board and co-host of Don't Miss a Beat, a podcast presented by Inside Cardiology.

Don't Miss a Beat: Treatment Sequencing in New Era of Heart Failure Management 

American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2025 Annual Scientific Sessions

 with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) treatment, focusing on the implementation of combination therapies. Hosts Steve Greene, MD, and Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH, discuss the transition from a previously limited treatment landscape to a new era with multiple proven therapeutic options.

To open the episode, Greene argues in favor of rapid-sequence implementation of HFpEF therapies, drawing parallels to the established 4-pillar guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). He highlights 3 key classes of medications—SGLT2 inhibitors, non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and incretin-based therapies—as the foundation of HFpEF treatment. He emphasizes the importance of early and aggressive therapy initiation to maximize clinical benefits and reduce the risk of delayed or missed treatment opportunities among this population.

Vaduganathan acknowledges the strength of the data supporting combination therapy but suggests a more risk-based approach, considering the broad clinical variability among HFpEF patients. He advocates for prioritizing rapid implementation in high-risk patients, such as those recently hospitalized, while allowing a more measured approach for lower-risk individuals. The discussion also touches on the role of phenotyping in tailoring treatment decisions, with GLP-1 receptor agonists being particularly relevant for patients with obesity and ARNi potentially benefiting those with mildly reduced ejection fraction.

Looking ahead, the hosts preview upcoming trials, including CONFIDENCE and CONFIRMATION, which will evaluate combination therapy strategies in chronic kidney disease and HFpEF populations. They also discuss the potential of fixed-dose combination therapies to simplify implementation and improve adherence. The episode closes with both experts agreeing on the need for a structured, evidence-based approach to HFpEF treatment while emphasizing the importance of translating trial data into real-world practice. 

 include Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Cytokinetics, Lexicon, and others. Relevant disclosures for 

 include Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Cytokinetics, and others.

Heidenreich PA, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al. 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure: Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. 

Patel R, Wadid M, Makwana B, et al. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Among Patients With Overweight or Obesity, Diabetes, and HFpEF on SGLT2 Inhibitors. 

Hosts discuss how recent advances in HFpEF have changed discussions surrounding how cardiologists should approach treatment sequencing. 

Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH

Dermatologists end their discussion on seborrheic dermatitis (SD), highlighting key takeaways for patients and clinicians on managing this condition.

Beyond Skin Deep: Validating and Transforming SD Patient Care

 As we kind of wrap things back around, we’ve all been in practice for a good amount of time. I think we all have kind of a unique perspective on treating patients with seborrheic dermatitis. I’m just wondering, based on the information that you’ve seen, based on your own clinical practice and any clinical trials, if you could think about some kind of a pearl that you would give to our viewers to take home, maybe to make us all a little bit better in our prescribing or our understanding the needs of a seborrheic dermatitis patient. Adelaide, I’m going to start with you, talking about children, is [there] some special way to communicate or [do] you know some special kernel of truth that you’ve learned in treating a seborrheic dermatitis pediatric patient?

 Well, I think one of the first things I do is I reassure them that it is a treatable problem and that we have tools that will be helpful. And we also have on the horizon some medicines which I’m always proud to say that I’ve had a small role in bringing forward hopefully to the market, and they’ll be coming soon, and I’ll update them as we go along. I think addressing it front and center as a medical problem for which we have treatments and hopefully, soon, better treatments is reassuring. The other thing I say is we take this seriously. I’ve had too many patients come in and say [that] the doctor barely looked then they left the room. “I got a prescription, but then what do I do?” They don’t feel that they’re really feeling validated, so [as] I do often with many disease states I say [that] we take this seriously, and they tell me how grateful they are to hear somebody say that.

 Adelaide, I think I’m taking that home. I want to tell my patients from now, “I take this very, very seriously,” because I think I want to be heard as a patient. I want you to hear what I’m saying and understand that this is important to me even if it doesn’t look like it’s so terrible; I want I want my physician to hear me and understand what I’m saying. James, thoughts on anything that you can give us to take home?

 Just to validate the patient’s concerns and the impact that it has on her life. [Telling them,] “Hey, it’s OK for you to feel this way about your condition. It’s not too trivial, and [I] take it very seriously.” I also thinking establishing that this is a condition that we’re going to be able to treat. It’s not a cure, but we’re going to treat this. We have really good treatments now on the horizon that could really help you get to the place you want to be.

 I think it’s important not to make judgments based on how their seborrheic dermatitis may appear. It’s important to ask patients about their symptoms. In particular, I really focus on asking about their itch. I’ve been surprised so many times. And I think seborrheic dermatitis is just one of those diseases where itch can be a significant burden. You should ask them about it. And now we have the emergence of [a] novel therapeutic that can reduce itch so quickly.

 It’s so interesting because I ask all of my atopic dermatitis patients, talk to me about your itch. That’s so easy because it’s so quick, and I can write it down. I don’t have to do a whole EASI [Eczema Area and Severity Index] score. I can ask them about their itch, do an overall IGA, or investigator’s global assessment. I’ve learned that itch is very important for my psoriasis patients. So now I try to ask my patients [about it]; not [that] everybody itches, but a significant number of psoriasis patients do itch. But I haven’t always asked my seborrheic dermatitis patients about their itching. I think that we could all kind of take that back, and maybe that will make us even better in terms of understanding their burden and being able to monitor it a little bit closer.

 I think all of you said it best, but I would take it a step further and just make them unravel it and remind them of the itch, the dryness, the epidermal changes of scale, the redness, and then bring it back to why are we treating with all these different components of cleansing, moisturizing, and the active ingredient. But also make them think about the marathon and not the sprint, not just making [it] go away quickly, but making things stay away and the safety of giving them things that will do that.

 I think these are all such critical points. What I’m hearing from all of you, who are some of the best clinicians out there, is validating that they have a real medical condition and that they deserve appropriate therapy, that we hear them, we have new options that are available, we can help to simplify the treatment regimen, we can give them something that’s safe, effective, [and] well tolerated, and we can help them in this journey. My goal always is to make them not think about their skin. If they want to think about it in a good way, that’s great, if they’re happy with their skin, that’s great. I want you to live your life and your skin goes with you, but your skin should not be the center of how you live your life, trying to hide the flake, trying to hide the redness, trying to not scratch. I think this is really, really critical. I’ve learned a lot from my colleagues and from talking to each one of you. I think we have some really interesting information. I want to thank each of you for participating today, I’d like to thank the audience for joining us. I hope that you’ve all been able to take home some kernels of truth, and I’d like to thank you all for watching this HCPLive 

Transcript was AI-generated and edited for clarity. 

Neal Bhatia, MD

The panelists stress the significance of a comprehensive approach to patient care.

Cardiometabolic Medicine: Seeing the Patient as a Whole

The panelists stress the significance of a comprehensive approach to patient care, acknowledging the interconnected nature of cardiovascular, kidney, endocrine, and obesity-related benefits, and highlighting that addressing secondary diseases can minimize overall disease risk in patients.

Authors