Metabolic aspects of psoriasis: the basis for specific therapy

Psoriasis, like diabetes, is a multifactorial genetic disease with complex interactions of deranged metabolism. Factors that affect epidermal differentiation and proliferation include cyclic nucleotide interactions, polyamine metabolism, cell surface--cytoskeleton interactions, and arachidonic acid--prostaglandin cascade. Evidence indicates that pharmacologic manipulation of the so-called critical metabolic systems not only may help us to understand the pathophysiology of psoriasis but also may yield improved treatments for the disease.