[The pathogenesis of psoriasis--new results]

A great deal of new immunological, biochemical, and cell biological information has been published on the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Many of these findings must be considered to be epi-phenomena of the inflammatory reaction (clinical correlate--erythema) and hyperproliferation of keratinocytes (scaling). The mechanisms of the psoriatic inflammatory reaction and of the specific neutrophil infiltration can now be more readily understood following the discovery of adhesion molecules, and the identification of new mediators--in particular NAP-1/IL-8. Proliferation-promoting factors for keratinocytes in vitro, that is, possible mediators of psoriatic scaling, are listed, and currently known changes in expression and concentration in psoriatic lesions are discussed.