Psoriasis affects individuals of African descent and white Brazilians similarly

Cultural, socio-demographic and environmental factors such as tropical climate and exposure to sun could have an impact on the incidence or clinical course of psoriasis. Here we describe the main clinical aspects of psoriasis in Brazilian patients and also investigate whether any particular feature can distinguish the disease occurring in Brazil from that occurring in other countries.

We recorded the clinical features of 151 psoriasis patients seen in a Brazilian public dermatological care unit between 2006 and 2008.

Males and females were similarly affected. The reported races were as follows: whites, 47 cases (41.6%), interracial individuals (mixed race), 42 cases (37.2%) and blacks, 24 cases (21.2%). Chronic plaque-type psoriasis was the most prevalent clinical form (110 cases, 72.8%) followed by palm and sole involvement (21 cases, 13.9%).

We demonstrated that psoriasis in these Brazilian subjects was similar to that observed in subjects from other countries, but interracial and black populations were affected as much as whites. Considering the high rate of interracial populations among Brazilians we cannot exclude the possibility that Afro-descendants may have inherited Caucasian genes associated with psoriasis. Poor socio-economic conditions of Afro-descendants can limit their possibilities of receiving adequate treatments, impairing their health-related quality of life.