A Clinical Study on Psoriasis

Youn, Jai Il; Kim, Byung Su

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing disorder which shows variable clinical features. A study of a large number of patients may elucidate the epidemiological and clinical features of psoriasis.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate the epidemiological data and clinical features of psoriasis in a large number of Korean patients.
METHODS
Epidemiological and clinical data with particular reference to the extent and activity of the condition in 1,025 new psoriatic patients between 1982 and 1994 were collected and analysed.
RESULTS
1. Patients in their twenties were most common(30.8%). There were no sexual predominancies in our patients. 2. The most frequent age of onset was in the third decade of life(31.4%). 3. Family histories were observed in 20.2% of patients. 4. With reference to the extent of this skin condition, 45.6% of patients were mild cases, 36.2% were moderate and 18.2% were severe. 5. With reference to the activity, 44.4% of patients were mild cases, 25.2% were moderate and 30.4% were severe. 6. The most common morphological features were nummular types(53.1%), guttate types(20.3%) and large plaque types(19.3%). 7. The common initial presenting sites in descending order were the scalp, knee, trunk, lower extremities, the elbow and upper extremities. 8. Nail involvements were observed in 24.2% of patients. 9. Subjective symptoms were present in 38.1% of patients.
CONCLUSION
We investigated the epidemiological and clinical features of psoriasis in a large number of Korean patients. The condition in more than half of the patients was moderate or servere with reference to the extent and activity.