Organized by the hospital's Dermatology Service, the course has become a benchmark for updating knowledge on therapeutic innovation and the multidisciplinary approach required for systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs).
The inauguration was attended by Dr. Carmen Pantoja Zarza, managing director of Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, and the course directors: Dr. Pablo de la Cueva Dobao, head of the Dermatology Service at Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, and Dr. Eva Chavarría Mur, associate physician in the Dermatology Service at Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor. Dr. Mª Ángeles Martín Díaz, head of the Dermatology Service at the host hospital, also participated in the event.
The scientific program provided a comprehensive and integrated view of the clinical and therapeutic management of SADs, featuring national experts from various specialties such as Dermatology, Rheumatology, Immunology, Anatomical Pathology, and Digestive System. These professionals came from leading hospitals in the Community of Madrid, Catalonia, Navarre, Castile and León, and other autonomous communities.
The course was structured into three main thematic blocks: connective tissue diseases and autoinflammatory diseases; therapeutics; and prevention and comorbidities. Key aspects discussed included therapeutic novelties in lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis, alarm signs for early diagnosis of connective tissue diseases, the role of dermatology in diagnosing autoinflammatory diseases, the use of JAK inhibitors, and the development of new therapeutic targets such as type I interferon blockade or BTK inhibitors. The comprehensive management of comorbidities and paradoxical reactions associated with targeted therapies was also addressed.
Prior to the course, the 10th annual meeting of the Spanish Group of Dermatology in Autoimmune and Systemic Diseases (GEDEAS) of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) was held. This gathering brought together dermatologists from across Spain in a practical format focused on the presentation and discussion of clinical cases involving complex autoimmune pathologies.
Systemic autoimmune diseases are chronic conditions of unknown etiology, characterized by an immune system dysfunction that attacks the body's own tissues. Their systemic nature means they can affect multiple organs, making a multidisciplinary approach essential for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Skin involvement is often one of the first clinical manifestations, giving dermatologists a crucial role in early diagnosis. Among the most common SADs are systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis, and Sjögren's syndrome. Recent advances in therapeutic innovation, biological drugs, and personalized medicine strategies have significantly improved the control of these diseases and the quality of life for patients.
