Psoriasis

 

Epidemiology

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory condition affecting 1-2% people of all ages.

 

 

Signs and Symptoms

Psoriasis is sometimes accompanied by:

Psoriasis most commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, scalp, lumbosacral areas, bum cleft, and penis.

Typical lesions are well-demarkated, pink to salmon-coloured, covered by loosely adherent scales characteristically silver-white.

Nail changes occur in 30% of cases of psoriasis, leading to yellow-brown discoloration with pitting, dimpling, and separation of the nail bed (oncholysis)

 

 

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Diagnosis

 

 

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Pathophysiology

Psoriasis is a T cell mediated disease, involving keratinocyte proloferation accompanying inflammation and angiogenesis.

 

There is a strong association between psoriasis and HLA-C.

 

It is likely that CD4+ cells initiate the disease by interacting with antigen-presenting cells, activating epidermal CD8+ cells. This interaction gives rise to many cytokines, dominated by IL-12, IFN-g, and TNF. TNF is apparently responsible for much of the pathogenesis.

 

New plaques may develop at areas of skin trauma.

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Causes and Risk Factors

 

The antigen remains elusive.

 

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Treatments

TNF antagonists can provide significant improvement in patients with psoriasis.

 

 

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Course

 

 

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Patient Education

 

 

 

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Community Resources

 

 

 

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