ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

Abstract Number: 1111

Lupus Teledematology: A Pilot Project to Evaluate the Plausibility of a Rapid Access Dermatology Service for Lupus Patients

Richard Antbring1, Malvina Cunningham 2, Richard Bull 2, Angela Pakozdi 1, Ravindra Rajakariar 1, Myles Lewis 1, Andrea Cove-Smith 1 and Debasish Pyne 3, 1Barts Health Lupus Centre, London, United Kingdom, 2Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom, 3Barts Lupus Centre, London, United Kingdom

Meeting: 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting

Keywords: , ,

Session Information

Date: Monday, November 11, 2019

Session Title: Health Services Research Poster II – ACR/ARP

Session Type: Poster Session (Monday)

Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM

Background/Purpose: Clinicians have been increasingly using social media sites professionally. Platforms such as WhatsApp ® could be a potentially effective tool in teledermatology for rapid diagnosis and/or triage.

Cutaneous disease is a  common manifestation of lupus but patients may also develop rashes not directly attributable to the disease and hence the importance of accurate diagnosis and management. In this study we introduced and service evaluated a WhatsApp® lupus telederm platform for diagnosis and management of cutaneous lesions in lupus patients attending clinic at an inner city Lupus Centre.

Methods: A WhatsApp ® group was created comprising all clinicians involved in the running of lupus clinics within the centre and included 2 senior dermatologists. Lupus patients who presented with skin lesions which posed diagnostic or management uncertainty were consented for lesion photography. Images were uploaded to WhatsApp ® along with relevant but brief clinical history. Patient confidentiality was protected by avoiding upload of any patient identifiable data. Dermatologist responses were collated and effectiveness of the service for patients was analysed.

Results: 1-year retrospective data from WhatsApp ® was evaluated. Images from 27 lupus patients had been uploaded for advice. Dermatologist advice could be categorised as either 1. Diagnosis and treatment advice (18 patients) (example – image1) or 2. Advice to refer to emergency dermatology clinic for further clinical evaluation (example – image 2) (9 patients). Patients in category 1 received a diagnosis and treatment institution within 48 hours. Those in category 2 were seen in dermatology clinic within 11 days where 7 underwent skin biopsy with subsequent diagnosis. The average time of a dermatologist to respond to queries was 1.1 days.

Conclusion: Our pilot project demonstrates that WhatsApp ® is an effective teledermatology platform for lupus patients with skin lesions allowing prompt evaluation and management.

Image 1

Image 2

Disclosure: R. Antbring, None; M. Cunningham, None; R. Bull, None; A. Pakozdi, None; R. Rajakariar, None; M. Lewis, None; A. Cove-Smith, None; D. Pyne, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Antbring R, Cunningham M, Bull R, Pakozdi A, Rajakariar R, Lewis M, Cove-Smith A, Pyne D. Lupus Teledematology: A Pilot Project to Evaluate the Plausibility of a Rapid Access Dermatology Service for Lupus Patients [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019; 71 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/lupus-teledematology-a-pilot-project-to-evaluate-the-plausibility-of-a-rapid-access-dermatology-service-for-lupus-patients/. Accessed February 3, 2023.

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