Psoriasis Flashcards
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. What is the world wide prevalence of psoriasis?
1 - 1-3%
2 - 10-13%
3 - 20-30%
4 - 30-40%
1 - 1-3%
- in the UK this is 2.8%
Psoriasis has a bimodal peak in age, with type 1 occurring <40 = early onset and type 2 = late onset occurring >40 years. Is this more common in men or women?
- equal in both
What % of patients with psoriasis have some form of family history of Psoriasis?
1 - 6-9%
2 - 16-19%
3 - 46-49%
4 - 60-90%
4 - 60-90%
The pathogenesis of psoriasis is factorial. Which of the following has not typically been associated with Psoriasis?
1 - Environmental factors
2 - Infection strep, HIV
3 - Drugs
4 - Obesity
5 - Alcohol and smoking
6 - Psychological (stress, anxiety and depression)
7 - Skin trauma- Isomorphic phenomenon, sunlight
4 - Obesity
- drugs such can cause psoriasis/drug induced psoriasis caused by anti-malarial and anti TNFs in susceptible people
Although the cause of Psoriasis is likely to be multifactorial, one theory is that the skin can become irritated by environmental or microorganisms that act as a trigger. This trigger causes which cell to then initiate an immune response?
1 - neutrophils
2 - macrophages
3 - dendritic cells
4 - eosinophils
3 - dendritic cells
Once the dendritic cells in the skin have been triggered they will elicit an immune response by activating T cells that release cytokines and cause inflammation. What then happens to the keratinocyte in the area?
1 - cells in the area die due to inflammation
2 - tissue scars causing abscess formation
3 - keratinocyte proliferation
4 - all of the above
3 - keratinocyte proliferation
- this is what causes plaques on the skin
- typically once the trigger is removed the inflammation subsides, BUT in Psoriasis, this inflammation becomes chronic
Which of the following can be used to describe the most common clinical feature in a caucasian with Psoriasis?
1 - plaques
2 - pink or red underlying skin
3 - white scaly appearance on top
4 - rough to touch
5 - all of the above
5 - all of the above
8-9 / 10 will have these forms of plaques if they have Psoriasis
- typically can be very itchy
Are the plaques that are the most common feature of psoriases as evident in pigmented skin?
- no
- it is more difficult to identify the erythema
Where are plaques most commonly found on the body?
1 - face and head
2 - torso and extensor surface of limbs
3 - all over limbs
4 - torso only
2 - torso and extensor surface of limbs
Are psoriatic plaques present in the flexor regions of joints?
- typically no
There are different body area specific forms of psoriases. What is a key feature of flexural psoriasis?
1 - skin has a darker form of erythema
2 - dandruff appearance and/or hair loss
3 - crops of pustules on surface of hands
4 - rough scaling is not present and skin is smooth
4 - rough scaling is not present and skin is smooth
- occurs in the creases of the skin (flexures) such as in the armpit, in the groin, under breasts and in skin folds.
There are different body area specific forms of psoriases. What is a key feature of scalp psoriasis?
1 - skin has a darker form of erythema
2 - dandruff appearance and/or hair loss
3 - crops of pustules on surface of hands
4 - rough scaling is not present and skin is smooth
2 - dandruff appearance and/or hair loss
There are different body area specific forms of psoriases. What is a key feature of pustular psoriasis?
1 - skin has a darker form of erythema
2 - dandruff appearance and/or hair loss
3 - crops of pustules on surface of hands
4 - rough scaling is not present and skin is smooth
3 - crops of pustules on surface of hands
- pustule = fluid filled lesion
- 2nd most common form of psoriasis
- pustules can also be present all over the body
There are different body area specific forms of psoriases. What is a key feature of guttate (drop) psoriasis?
1 - typically cause by a germ following a sore throat
2 - dandruff appearance and/or hair loss
3 - crops of pustules on surface of hands
4 - rough scaling is not present and skin is smooth
1 - typically cause by a germ following a sore throat
- small scaly widespread plaques
- can also be associated with hypopigmentation
There are different body area specific forms of psoriases. What is a key feature of erythrodermic psoriasis?
1 - typically cause by a germ following a sore throat
2 - dandruff appearance and/or hair loss
3 - crops of pustules on surface of hands
4 - systemic erythema and plaques often merge together
4 - systemic erythema and plaques often merge together