[Organisation of combined follow-up by hospitals and private dermatologists]

Systemic therapy of psoriasis with biologics or cyclosporine requires combined follow-up of patients by hospitals and dermatologists in private practice. Initiation of therapy and the laboratory examinations required before starting treatment are carried out in a hospital setting, and subsequent follow-up may be carried out by a dermatologist in private practice. Successful combined follow-up depends on certain key points, chiefly good knowledge by the independent dermatologist of the systemic therapies available for psoriasis, and smooth working of the hospital-dermatologist interface. It is essential to develop training and information tools in order to optimise joint therapy. This may also be formalised by the creation of a healthcare network as provided for in French legislation (law of 4 March 2002).