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Diagnosis and Management of CutaneousPsoriasis: A Review
C M E1 AMA PRA
Category 1 CreditTM
ANCC1.5 Contact Hours 1.5 Contact Hours
Alisa Brandon, MSc & Medical Student & University of Toronto & Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Asfandyar Mufti, MD & Dermatology Resident & University of Toronto & Toronto, Ontario, Canada
R. Gary Sibbald, DSc (Hons), MD, MEd, BSc, FRCPC (Med Derm), ABIM, FAAD, MAPWCA & Professor & Medicine andPublic Health & University of Toronto & Toronto, Ontario, Canada & Director & International Interprofessional Wound CareCourse and Masters of Science in Community Health (Prevention and Wound Care) & Dalla Lana Faculty of Public Health &University of Toronto & Past President & World Union of Wound Healing Societies & Editor-in-Chief & Advances in Skin andWound Care & Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The author, faculty, staff, and planners, including spouses/partners (if any), in any position to control the content of this CME activity have disclosed that they have no financial relationshipswith, or financial interests in, any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.
To earn CME credit, you must read the CME article and complete the quiz online, answering at least 13 of the 18 questions correctly.
This continuing educational activity will expire for physicians on January 31, 2021, and for nurses on December 4, 2020.
All tests are now online only; take the test at http://cme.lww.com for physicians and www.nursingcenter.com for nurses. Complete CE/CME information is on the last page of this article.
GENERAL PURPOSE:
To provide information about the diagnosis and management of cutaneous psoriasis.
TARGET AUDIENCE:
This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses
with an interest in skin and wound care.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES:
After completing this continuing education activity, the provider should be better able to:
1. Describe the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, assessment, and diagnosis of the types and
subtypes of psoriasis.
2. Explain the use of topical treatments, intralesional steroids, phototherapy, conventional systemic treatments,
biologic agents, and pain medicines for psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is characterizedby plaque, inverse, guttate, pustular, and erythrodermic variants.This review focuses on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatmentof cutaneous psoriasis. Other related topics discussed includeperistomal psoriasis, the Koebner phenomenon, and the relationshipbetween biologic therapy and wound complications.KEYWORDS: biologic therapy, cutaneous psoriasis, erythrodermicpsoriasis, intertriginous psoriasis, Koebner phenomenon, psoriasis,psoriasis vulgaris, pustular psoriasis, topical corticosteroids
ADV SKIN WOUND CARE 2019;32:58–69.
INTRODUCTIONPsoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease, with a reported
prevalence of 1% to 3% in Europe and the US.1 It may present
at any age, but has a bimodal distribution of first presentation
at between 15 to 20 and 55 to 60 years of age. Younger age at
onset is associated with more severe disease and a family history
affecting more family members.2 In general, approximately 36%
of patients have a family history of psoriasis, and multiple genetic
susceptibility loci have been identified.3,4
Metabolic syndrome (three of five components: central obesity,
high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high serum triglycerides,
and low serum high-density lipoprotein)5 has been associated with
psoriasis. Psoriasis is also associated with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and coronary
artery disease.6–8 Persons with psoriasis may also have a sig-
nificantly decreased quality of life and psychological burden
including anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behav-
ior.2,9,10 Reviewing this article will facilitate provider knowledge of
psoriasis pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGYPsoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease with multiple leukocytes
and cytokines interacting to produce the disease process (Figure 1).
The inflammatory cascade of psoriasis begins when antigens in
the skin activate dendritic cells and neutrophils, which release
cytokines including tumor necrosis factor ! (TNF-!), interleukin
23 (IL-23), and IL-12. These cytokines participate in positive feed-
back loops by activating leukocytes, which then release more
cytokines, resulting in continuous inflammation. For example,
IL-23 converts cluster of differentiation 4–positive cells into
T-helper 17 (TH17) cells that release IL-17A; TH17 cells and IL-17A
act to upregulate TNF-!. These cytokines also exert effects on the
skin with IL-17A, IL-20, and IL-22, and TNF-! contributing to
the modified keratinocyte function and the TH17 cells promote
angiogenesis.11,12
CLINICAL PRESENTATIONPsoriasis is a relapsing-remitting disease that often improves with
warmer weather and relapses during stressful life events or in con-
junction with infections. Common presentations include (Figure 2):
1. Plaque psoriasis, with elevated areas of more than 1 cm. This
is the most common subtype and presents with well-demarcated
annular lesions comprising an erythematous base and thick
silvery scale. These lesions are often found on the extensor surfaces
(elbows, knees), scalp, lumbosacral area, and intergluteal cleft.
2. Inverse psoriasis, seen in the body folds. Also called flexural
psoriasis, it is characterized by red shiny lesions devoid of
scale in the inframammary, perineal, and axillary areas.
3. Guttate psoriasis, presenting as teardrop-shaped lesions. Acute
guttate psoriasis is often preceded by a sore throat associated
with group B streptococcal infection, and consists of multiple,
small (2–10 mm) psoriatic lesions, most often on the trunk.
4. Erythrodermic psoriasis, in which 90% or more of the body
is red. This variant consists of complete or almost complete
involvement of the skin and is characterized by gradual
coalescence of plaques caused by infection, drugs, systemic
disease, or withdrawal of corticosteroids.
5. Generalized pustular psoriasis manifests as multiple uniform
sterile pustules on the body and is often accompanied by fever. It
may also be precipitated by withdrawal of systemic corticoste-
roids or infection and represents unstable disease that often
requires hospitalization.
6. Palmoplantar pustulosis psoriasis presents on the hands and
feet as sterile pustules on a base of erythema and scale.2,13
Extracutaneous manifestations of psoriasis include nail abnor-
malities and psoriatic arthritis. About 80% of patients with psoriasis
have nail involvement including pitting (small depressions on
the nail surface), onycholysis (distal nail separation from the nail
bed), subungual hyperkeratosis, and orange-yellow spots beneath
the nail plate (oil spots).2,13
The prevalence of psoriatic arthritis among patients withcutaneous
psoriasis is 30%,14,15 with patients developing arthritis an average
of 12 years after the onset of cutaneous psoriasis.16 There are five
forms of psoriatic arthritis. From most common to least, these
include distal oligoarthritis (inflammation that involves four or
(guselkumab), and anti–IL-12-23 inhibitors (ustekinumab) are
commonly used agents for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
The anti-TNF agents (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab,
certolizumab pegol) were first on the market and may still be
used for psoriatic arthritis, but newer agents have replaced the
TNF inhibitors for increased efficacy in plaque psoriasis.
The choice of biologic is often difficult for the provider and
the patient.39–41 Patients requiring systemic treatment may be
offered biologics based on criteria including the failure of two
or more conventional systemic treatments. The efficacy, safety,
and ease of administration of each particular agent should be
balanced against the coverage provided by the patient’s healthcare
insurance.13
Interleukin 17A plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of
psoriasis, and it is the target of many newly developed biologic
agents, including secukinumab, ixekizumab, and brodalumab.
Unlike secukinumab and ixekizumab, which bind to IL-17A
itself, brodalumab targets the IL-17A receptor on keratinocytes
and immune cells, providing a more direct therapeutic target.42
Infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, and etanercept target
TNF-!.43 Ustekinumab prevents IL-12 and IL-23 from stimulating
receptor complexes by binding to the p40 subunit common to both
cytokines.44 In contrast, guselkumab targets only target IL-23 by
binding to its p19 subunit.45
A 2017 Cochrane review (prior to the marketing of some of the
newer agents) concluded that ustekinumab, infliximab, and certo-
lizumab have the best combination of efficacy and safety when
prescribed for plaque psoriasis. Ixekizumab had the highest
efficacy in terms of reaching PASI 90, whereas certolizumab had
the lowest relative risk of serious adverse events.38
There are several safety considerations that are associated with
biologic agents. All patients starting biologics should be given
the opportunity to take part in long-term saferty registries. Live
vaccines should be avoided in patients on biologic therapies and
infants (up to 6 months of age) born to mothers taking biologic
therapy beyond 16 weeks’ gestation. Special care should be taken
when prescribing biologics to patients with a history of cancer,
particularly in the past 5 years, and patients starting biologic therapy
should be tested for infection with hepatitis B and C, human im-
munodeficiency virus, varicella-zoster antibody, and latent tuber-
culosis (preferably with an interferon + release assay).19,46
Table 3.
TRADITIONAL SYSTEMIC MEDICATIONS FOR PSORIASIS
Medication Mechanism of Action Benefits Common Dosing Adverse EffectsEvidenceLevel
Methotrexate Inhibits production of
proliferating cells such
as lymphocytes35
Some evidence for
psoriatic arthritis35 and
best safety profile of
systemic agents37
Once weekly
7.5–25 mg + 1–5
mg folic acid daily
on other days35
FDA pregnancy category X;a
hepatotoxicity, bone marrow
suppression, pulmonary toxicity35
A
Cyclosporine Inhibits immune
response through
inhibition of
calcineurin35
Fast acting35
3–5 mg/kg daily35
Renal toxicity, hypertension, limit
continuous long-term use35
A
Acitretin Modulates epidermal
differentiation and has
anti-inflammatory
effects35
Evidence for generalized
pustular and erythrodermic
psoriasis and patients
who are HIV-positive35
10–50 mg/d35 with
meals
FDA pregnancy category X,a
hypertriglyceridemia, dryness of
oral and nasal mucosa, brittle
nails, alopecia, hepatotoxicity35
A
Sulfasalazine Exact mechanism
unclear; has anti-
inflammatory effects35
Low adverse effects
profile; some evidence
for psoriatic arthritis11,35
1–4 g daily35
Rash, nausea35
A
Abbreviation: HIV, human immunodeficiency virus.aFetal abnormalities have been demonstrated in animals or humans according to FDAbNo FDA approval in the UScNo FDA pregnancy category because not approved for use in the US
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