Hemodialysis therapy for psoriasis

Twenty-five patients with extensive plaque psoriasis resistant to conventional treatment were evaluated for study of the effects of dialytic therapy on the skin lesions. Twenty patients were dialyzed twice a week for six hours each time with a 1.0 m2 Cuprophan membrane dialyzer. Eighteen patients responded to this therapy with regression of skin lesions. Twelve of them have not developed recurrence of lesions during a followup period extending from 6 to 27 months. A few new lesions were observed after two to six months in four patients, but the lesions were not severe enough to justify reinstitution of dialysis. Two patients developed relapse within two months after cessation of dialytic therapy. One of them was started on dialysis a second time and this was followed by remission of lesions. Five patients were taken as controls and were treated with other modes of therapy including sham dialysis, ultrafiltration without dialysis, or systemic heparinization before they were taken on the dialysis program. Whereas sham dialysis and systemic heparinization had no effect on the skin lesions which responded later to dialytic therapy, the ultrafiltration procedure was followed by partial regression of psoriasis. Dialysis appears to have a definite role in the treatment of psoriasis.