P soriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that can considerably impair patients' quality of life. More research has probably been performed on this dermatologic disease than on any other during the past decade. As a result, our knowledge of its pathogenesis has increased significantly, but much remains to be discovered. Our treatment armamentarium has also expanded, particularly with regard to combination treatments and the new biologic agents. A cure for psoriasis still eludes us, but the advances of the past decade are significant, nevertheless, and the important literature during the last 10 years is summarized here.
METHODSA literature search for review articles on psoriasis during the past 10 years using PubMed was performed. On the basis of the opinion of the authors, only a sample of the most important literature is included in this periodic synopsis. Some primary sources are included if reviews were not available. The authors understand that many publications of note are not included here, but this is probably unavoidable given the number of publications on this topic in the past 10 years and the limitation of available space in this synopsis.
EPIDEMIOLOGYKoo J. Population-based epidemiologic study of psoriasis with emphasis on quality of life assessment. Dermatol Clin 1996;14:485-96.Results from a population-based study showed that 2.6% of the US population has psoriasis, which translates to approximately 6.5 million individuals.
PATHOGENESISGenetics Leder RO, Mansbridge JN, Hallmayer J, Hodge SE. Familial psoriasis and HLA-B: unambiguous support for linkage in 97 published families. Hum Hered 1998;48:198-211.