Psoriasis Disease Summary

Overview

Psoriasis is a systemic, chronic, inflammatory disorder that can be transmitted genetically and is provoked by environmental factors. Effects and associations with other diseases are discussed in the Introduction section.

Psoriasis is found in 2% of the population. A detailed discussion about the prevalence of the disease regionally is featured in the Epidemiology section.

The Pathophysiology section provides an explanation of the immune-mediated inflammatory process involved in psoriasis.

History and Physical Examination

The Clinical Presentation section describes the lesions that can be found commonly in all patients with psoriasis and the specific lesions per type of psoriasis.

Information that is necessary in diagnosing psoriasis should be elicited and this is listed in the History section.

In the Physical Examination section, areas of the body that need to be inspected are identified. 

Psoriasis_Disease Summary

Diagnosis

Several laboratory tests are to be done to diagnose psoriasis. There are tests that are used to assess the severity of psoriasis before starting, resuming or increasing the therapy given. These tests are enumerated in the Laboratory Tests and Ancillaries section.

Other diseases that may present like psoriasis and should be ruled out are in the Differential Diagnosis section.

Management

The severity of psoriasis is defined by subjective and objective qualitative assessment. Indices that can be used in assessing the severity of psoriasis and grading of the severity are discussed in the Evaluation section.

The choice of therapy in managing psoriasis should be individualized. The goals of treatment, factors to consider in choosing therapy and assessment of treatment success are discussed in the Principles of Therapy section. Consideration for administration of vaccination is also discussed in this section.

Different topical (eg calcineurin inhibitors, keratolytics, etc) and systemic drugs (eg Apremilast, Dimethyl fumarate, etc) that can be used in the treatment of psoriasis are enumerated and discussed in the Pharmacological Therapy section. Indications for these treatments are also included in this section.

Patient education, alternative treatments and phototherapy for psoriasis are described and detailed in the Nonpharmacological section.