About

Victoria P. Werth, M.D., is a Professor of Dermatology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Veteran's Administration Medical Center. She is affiliated with the Division of Dermatology within the Department of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Her clinical expertise includes autoimmune skin diseases such as cutaneous lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, pemphigus vulgaris, and other autoimmune skin conditions. Dr. Werth's research focuses on clinical and translational studies in cutaneous autoimmune diseases, with particular interests in photobiology, tumor necrosis factor, glycosaminoglycans, and the pathogenesis of autoimmune skin disorders. Her work involves understanding the mechanisms underlying autoimmune skin diseases and developing therapeutic approaches, including clinical trials for conditions like dermatomyositis and cutaneous lupus.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Pathology
• Internal medicine
• Physical therapy
• Immunology
• Intensive care medicine
• Dermatology
• Family medicine
• Biology

Selected publications

• Chronic GVHD has similar or worse impact on skin-specific quality of life than autoimmune connective tissue diseases: a cross-sectional study

  Mendeley Data · 2026-02-10

  datasetOpen access

  Supplemental figures to support JAAD publication: Chronic GVHD has similar or worse impact on skin-specific quality of life than autoimmune connective tissue diseases: a cross-sectional study Supplemental figure 1. Sensitivity analysis of skin-specific quality of life in chronic graft-versus-host disease subtypes (epidermal, sclerotic, and combination) compared to dermatomyositis and cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Multivariate linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and race demonstrate Skindex-29 scores were on average worse in epidermal and combination cGVHD compared to DM while there was no statistical difference for sclerotic cGVHD. This difference was clinically significant in total and subscale scores aside from the symptom subscale for combination disease. Skindex-29 scores were not statistically different in epidermal or combination cGVHD compared to CLE while total, symptom, and emotion scores were on average worse with clinically significant differences in CLE compared to sclerotic cGVHD. Point estimates have similar trends to primary analysis with wider confidence intervals due to smaller sample size per group. Supplemental figure 2. Sensitivity analysis of skin-specific quality of life in chronic graft-versus-host disease compared to dermatomyositis and cutaneous lupus erythematosus adjusting for clinical disease severity. Multivariate linear regression models comparing ssQoL in DM (n=332), CLE (n=85), and a subgroup of cGVHD in which clinical disease severity grading was available (n=35). When adjusting for disease severity, CLE had worse ssQOL in total score and emotion subscales in addition to the symptom subscale compared to cGVHD, which were clinically significant. Point estimates overall have similar trends to primary analysis with wider confidence intervals due to smaller sample size per group. Disease severity was measured by NIH Skin Score (0-3) with mild = 1, moderate/severe ≥2, Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (0-100) with mild ≤14, moderate/severe > 14, and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (0-70) with mild ≤ 9, moderate/severe > 9.

  PublisherDOI

• Chronic GVHD has similar or worse impact on skin-specific quality of life than autoimmune connective tissue diseases: a cross-sectional study

  Mendeley Data · 2026-02-10

  datasetOpen access

  Supplemental figures to support JAAD publication: Chronic GVHD has similar or worse impact on skin-specific quality of life than autoimmune connective tissue diseases: a cross-sectional study Supplemental figure 1. Sensitivity analysis of skin-specific quality of life in chronic graft-versus-host disease subtypes (epidermal, sclerotic, and combination) compared to dermatomyositis and cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Multivariate linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and race demonstrate Skindex-29 scores were on average worse in epidermal and combination cGVHD compared to DM while there was no statistical difference for sclerotic cGVHD. This difference was clinically significant in total and subscale scores aside from the symptom subscale for combination disease. Skindex-29 scores were not statistically different in epidermal or combination cGVHD compared to CLE while total, symptom, and emotion scores were on average worse with clinically significant differences in CLE compared to sclerotic cGVHD. Point estimates have similar trends to primary analysis with wider confidence intervals due to smaller sample size per group. Supplemental figure 2. Sensitivity analysis of skin-specific quality of life in chronic graft-versus-host disease compared to dermatomyositis and cutaneous lupus erythematosus adjusting for clinical disease severity. Multivariate linear regression models comparing ssQoL in DM (n=332), CLE (n=85), and a subgroup of cGVHD in which clinical disease severity grading was available (n=35). When adjusting for disease severity, CLE had worse ssQOL in total score and emotion subscales in addition to the symptom subscale compared to cGVHD, which were clinically significant. Point estimates overall have similar trends to primary analysis with wider confidence intervals due to smaller sample size per group. Disease severity was measured by NIH Skin Score (0-3) with mild = 1, moderate/severe ≥2, Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (0-100) with mild ≤14, moderate/severe > 14, and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (0-70) with mild ≤ 9, moderate/severe > 9.

  PublisherDOI

• Lenabasum, a cannabinoid type 2 receptor agonist, exerts anti-inflammatory effects in dermatomyositis

  Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2026-01-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Identifying cutaneous dermatomyositis disease area and severity index thresholds of disease severity in alignment with patient perspectives on quality of life: A retrospective analysis

  Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2026-02-04

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Reply

  Arthritis & Rheumatology · 2026-04-13

  articleSenior author

  Disclosure Form Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

  PublisherDOI

• Boom or Bust: Clinical Trials in Pemphigus and Other B-Cell–Mediated Autoimmune Diseases

  Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2025-11-03

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 13 Managing skin manifestations in SLE

  Abstracts · 2025-10-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Global Survey of Quinacrine Use in Systemic and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

  The Journal of Rheumatology · 2025-12-01

  article

  OBJECTIVE: Experiences with the antimalarial quinacrine for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) remain underexplored. We evaluated and compared dermatologists' and rheumatologists' experiences with quinacrine in managing SLE and/or CLE. METHODS: We sent a structured survey to 102 SLE specialists within the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) and the Canadian Network for Improved Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (CaNIOS), and 200 members of the Rheumatologic Dermatology Society (RDS). Participants responded to questions on self-reported quinacrine prescription history, perceived clinical benefit, reasons for drug discontinuation, and barriers to prescribing. RESULTS: A total of 20 dermatologists from RDS and 40 SLICC and CaNIOS members responded to the survey. All RDS participants (100%) had previously prescribed quinacrine, compared to 17/40 (43%) of SLICC/CaNIOS participants. The majority of quinacrine prescribers (100% RDS, 12/17 [71%] SLICC/CaNIOS) had prescribed quinacrine in combination with another antimalarial. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or chloroquine (CQ) intolerance (65% RDS, 47% SLICC/CaNIOS) and HCQ/CQ-related retinal toxicity (50% RDS, 24% SLICC/CaNIOS) were other reasons for prescribing quinacrine. Clinical benefit was reported by 19/20 (95%) of RDS and 12/17 (71%) of SLICC/CaNIOS clinicians, and discontinuations were less frequent among RDS (5/20 [25%] reported none) compared to SLICC/CaNIOS (all 17 reported ≥ 1). Availability and cost of quinacrine were primary prescribing barriers. CONCLUSION: Surveyed dermatologists and rheumatologists differed in their experience with quinacrine for CLE and SLE, respectively. Availability remains a key barrier to prescribing, underscoring the need to address supply issues and conduct further research to optimize quinacrine use in SLE and CLE.

  PublisherDOI

• 62317 Litifilimab Reduces Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index–Activity (CLASI-A) Erythema and Scale/Hypertrophy Subcomponents and Shows a Greater Shift Versus Placebo From Severe-To-Moderate Toward Mild, Almost Clear, and Clear Skin Di

  Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2025-09-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• 2025 American College of Rheumatology ( <scp>ACR</scp> ) Guideline for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

  Arthritis Care & Research · 2025-11-03 · 14 citations

  article

  OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based and expert guidance for the treatment and management of non-renal systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); treatment and management of lupus nephritis are addressed in a separate guideline. METHODS: Clinical questions for treatment and management of SLE were developed in the PICO format (population, intervention, comparator, and outcome). Systematic literature reviews were developed for each PICO question, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to assess evidence quality and formulate recommendations. The Voting Panel achieved a consensus of ≥70% agreement on the direction (for or against) and strength (strong or conditional) of each recommendation. RESULTS: We present recommendations and ungraded, consensus-based good practice statements for the treatment and management of SLE that are applicable to pediatric and adult patients. Recommendations emphasize uniform treatment with hydroxychloroquine, limiting duration of glucocorticoid use, and early introduction of conventional and/or biologic immunosuppressive therapies to achieve and maintain control of SLE inflammation (remission or a low level of disease activity), reduce SLE-related morbidity and mortality, and minimize medication-related toxicities. CONCLUSION: This guideline presents direction regarding treatment and management of SLE and provides a foundation for well-informed, shared clinician-patient decision-making. These recommendations should not be used to limit or deny access to therapies, as treatment decisions may vary due to the unique clinical situation and personal preferences of each person with SLE.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant K24AR002207

  NIH · $1.3M · 2013

• The role of TNF-Alpha in cutaneous integrity

  NIH · 2013–2017

• Treatment of Dermatomyositis with Ajulemic Acid, a Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid

  NIH · $387k · 2014–2018

• Optimization of Clinical Trial Design in Cutaneous Lupus

  NIH · $653k · 2018–2023

• A nonpsychoactive cannabinoid receptor-2 agonist to treat itch and inflammation in dermatomyositis

  NIH · $1.7M · 2020–2025

Frequent coauthors

• Lisa G. Rider

  National Institutes of Health

  236 shared

• Ingrid E. Lundberg

  Center for Rheumatology

  229 shared

• Frederick W. Miller

  National Institutes of Health

  223 shared

• David Fiorentino

  Stanford University

  219 shared

• Marjolein Visser

  Amsterdam Neuroscience

  207 shared

• Rohit Aggarwal

  Policlinico San Matteo Fondazione

  183 shared

• Matteo Bottai

  Karolinska Institutet

  182 shared

• Mazen M. Dimachkie

  University of Kansas Medical Center

  180 shared

Awards & honors

• Medical Dermatology Society
• The Myositis Association
• International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation
• Lupus Research Institute
• Lupus Foundation of America