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The management of psoriasis.
1St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
International Journal of Clinical Practice
|January 6, 2000
Summary
Psoriasis is a common skin condition that can also affect joints, causing significant physical and psychosocial issues. Treatment choice depends on severity and patient factors, with systemic agents requiring careful monitoring due to potential side effects.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Rheumatology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Psoriasis affects 1.5-2.0% of Western populations, equally in men and women.
- Approximately 3-4% of psoriasis patients develop associated psoriatic arthritis.
- The condition causes significant physical and psychosocial morbidity, despite rarely being life-threatening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the management strategies for psoriasis.
- To highlight factors influencing treatment selection.
- To emphasize the need for careful supervision of systemic therapies.
Main Methods:
- Review of current management approaches for psoriasis.
- Consideration of factors influencing treatment decisions, including disease extent, type, associated arthritis, and comorbidities.
- Discussion of systemic agent use and associated risks.
Main Results:
- Management options include topical treatments, phototherapy, photochemotherapy, and systemic agents.
- Treatment choice is individualized based on disease characteristics and patient health.
- Systemic agents necessitate close patient supervision due to potential serious adverse effects.
Conclusions:
- Psoriasis management is multifactorial, requiring tailored treatment plans.
- Careful monitoring is crucial for patients on systemic psoriasis therapies.
- Understanding the impact of psoriasis on morbidity guides therapeutic decisions.