A Clinical Study of Patients with Psoriasis

Lee, Byeong Song; Yoon, Tae Jin; Oh, Chee Won

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis as one of the relatively common cutaneous disorders, affecting 0.5% to 1.5% of the general popuation in the world. However, it is recorded that the disease is characterized by its highly variable clinical manifestations and incidence influenced by racial, geographic and environmental factors.
OBJECTIVE
This study was done to investigate the clinical manifestations and clinical incidence and treatment of psoriasis in the Chinju area.
METHODS
This study was based on the analysis of the 208 psoriatics from January, 1991 to December, 1994 at the department of dermatology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital.
RESULTS
The results were summarized as follows : 1. Among 208 cases of psoriasis, the number of male and female patients was 110(52.9%) and 98(47.1%), making the sex(male to female) ratio 1: 0.9. 2. The mean age of onset was 31.4 years in males and 30.1 years in females. The peak age group of onset. was between 10 and 19 years. 3. The mean duration of the diseases for the total sample was 5.9 years. 4. Itching was the major subjective symptom in 92 cases(42.3%) of the 208 patients. 5. A family history of psoriasis was noted in 33 cases(15.9%) of the 208 patients. 6. Skin lesions were observed at lower extremities(140 cases; 67.3%), trunk(136 cases; 65.4%), elbow joint(136 cases, 65.4%), upper extremities(132 cases; 63.5%), knee joint(131 cases; 63.0%), scalp(126 cases; 60.5%), palm or sole(43 cases; 20.7%), face(15 cases; 7.2%) in order of frequency. 7. Psoriatic patients were composed of psriasis vulgaris(167 cases, 80.3% ), pustulosis palmoplantaris(26 cases, 12.5%), guttate psoriasis(10 cases, 4.8%), and generalized pustular psoriasis(5 cases, 2.4%). 8. Arthralgia was complained of in 33 cases(15.9%) of the 208 patients. Nail changes were noted in 32 cases(15.4%) of the 208 patients in their finger nails. Toe nails were involved in 13 cases(6.3%) of the 208 patients. 9. We treated psoriatics with topical steroid in 188 cases(90.3%) and emollient in 92 cases(44. 2%). Among them 42 cases(20.2%) were treated with topical therapy only. We treated psoriatics with systemic retinoid in 44 cases(21.1%) and methotrexate in 23 cases(11.1%) and steroid in 13 cases(6.2%), in which all of them received the topical remedies with systemic therapy. In phototherapy, we treated psoriatics with UVB in 65 cases(31.2%) and psoralen plus UVA(PUVA) in 34 cases(16.4%). The 97 cases(46.6%) were treated with topical remedies with phototherapy.
CONCLUSION
The clinical analysis of the 208 patients with psoriasis was performed. We could not find the significant difference between our study and other reported studies.