Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease. Evidence shows an association
of psoriasis with arthritis, depression, inflammatory bowel disease and
cardiovascular diseases. Recently, several other comorbid conditions have been
proposed as related to the chronic inflammatory status of psoriasis. The
understanding of these conditions and their treatments will certainly lead to better
management of the disease. The present article aims to synthesize the knowledge in
the literature about the classical and emerging comorbidities related to
psoriasis.
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic immune mediated disease of universal
distribution that causes great damage to the quality of life of the affected
individual, whose prevalence is estimated at 0.41% in the Brazilian population.
The objective of this work was update on physiopathogenesis, diagnosis and
classification of hidradenitis suppurativa and to establish therapeutic
recommendations in the Brazilian reality. It was organized as a work group
composed of eight dermatologists from several institutions of the country with
experience in the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa and carried out review
on the topic. Recommendations were elaborated and voted by modified Delphi
system and statistical analysis of the results was performed. The Brazilian
consensus on the clinical approach of hidradenitis suppurativa had the support
of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology.
This study extends previous reports of an association between psoriasis and obesity and shows a direct correlation between obesity as measured according to different parameters and psoriasis severity.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory spondyloarthritis that occurs in combination with psoriasis. The exact prevalence of PsA is unknown, and its pathogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. Genetic, environmental, and immunologic factors have all been implicated. The appearance of arthritis might precede, succeed or occur concomitant with skin lesions. PsA is sometimes considered a benign form of arthritis, but it affects patient quality of life and also causes functional impairment. Up to 20% of affected patients exhibit extremely destructive and disfiguring forms of the disease, and PsA is associated with increased mortality. The treatment of PsA aims to provide relief from signs and symptoms of the disease, prevent structural damage to joints, improve patient quality of life and decrease mortality. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of clinical presentation. The use of immunobiological agents is restricted to cases that do not respond to conservative treatment.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease associated with the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The identification of these molecules in the pathogenesis of psoriasis facilitated the use of monoclonal antibodies to block their actions as a treatment for severe psoriasis. An increased inflammatory response has been documented in patients with obesity, a condition that is associated with the occurrence and severity of psoriasis. Osteopontin (OPN), TNF and CXCL9 levels are enhanced in patients with psoriasis, although OPN has been documented in the adipose tissue of obese patients without psoriasis. The prevalence of obesity is much higher in psoriasis patients compared with the general population. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between cytokine levels and psoriasis in the context of obesity. We compared OPN and CXCL9 plasma levels among 117 psoriasis patients and 27 healthy body mass index-matched subjects using ELISA. We also analyzed the TNF, CCL2 and CCL5 levels in a smaller subgroup of patients and matched controls. Median OPN, CCL5 and CXCL9 levels were significantly higher in psoriasis patients compared with the controls, independent of obesity. There was no difference between the median CCL2 levels in the psoriasis patients and the controls (P<0.05), although the CCL2 levels were elevated in obese patients compared with non-obese psoriasis patients (P<0.001). Facial involvement and the psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score were not associated (P<0.05) with OPN levels or elevated levels of chemokines. There was no significant correlation between the OPN and CXCL9 levels or the OPN and TNF levels in psoriasis patients. This work confirms that OPN, CCL5 and CXCL9 plasma levels are higher in psoriasis patients and provides evidence that their higher levels are not a consequence of obesity. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that OPN production is independent of TNF-α and CXCL9.
Recent studies have found a relationship between obesity and chronic inflammation, confirmed by the association of high levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-_), interleukin six (IL-6,) and reactive C-protein with an increase in body mass index (BMI). In obese individuals, this inflammatory condition could contribute to the development or aggravation of psoriasis. Analogous phenomena have already been described in other inflammatory chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. Epidemiological studies have identified a high prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities, secondary to the metabolic alterations associated with psoriasis and obesity. A few aspects of this association remain unclear, such as the impact of obesity in the clinical forms of dermatoses, in the response to treatment, and its relationship with comorbidities.
Background
Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare and severe phenotype of psoriasis characterized by sudden outbreak of widespread coalescent sterile pustules associated with a spectrum of systemic symptoms.
Objective
We aimed to describe the epidemiology and treatment of GPP in Brazil from the public health care system perspective.
Methods
This was a retrospective public claims database study, using outpatient and inpatient databases, with information from January 2018 to August 2020, based on records of health resource utilization by patients with GPP. Outpatient treatment regimens and fatal inpatient outcomes were described.
Results
In total, 1458 outpatients of all ages were identified, of whom 53% were women. We estimated the GPP prevalence in Brazil to be between 0.7 and 0.9 per 100,000. Acitretin was the most commonly dispensed drug. Of all the outpatients, 769 outpatients could be tracked in the inpatient database, and 151 had hospital admissions during the study period. Of them, 5.3% had a fatal outcome during hospitalization. A primary skin condition or an infection was the most frequent hospitalization cause.
Limitation
The International Classification of Diseases codes for GPP and psoriasis have not been previously validated in this context.
Conclusion
GPP is a rare disease in Brazil and affects individuals of all ages and both sexes. Hospitalizations and disease-related deaths highlight the need for its prompt diagnosis, close medical follow-up, and effective treatment.
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