摘要
Background: The main dermatology textbooks describe only in passing pruritus in psoriasis and rarely mention other symptoms. A quantification of the presence of symptoms is not available for clinical subgroups of psoriasis. Objectives: T o investigate the prevalence of symptoms experienced by patients with different clinical types of psoriasis. Methods: The study was carried out in patients hosp italized for psoriasis between February 2000 and February 2002 at the inpatient wards of the Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata, Rome, Italy. Symptoms were evaluated using the symptoms scale of Skindex- 29. Clinical severity was assess ed by the dermatologists using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and by the patients completing the self-administered PASI. Psychiatric morbidity was evaluated using the 12- item General Health Questionnaire. Results: In tota l, 936 eligible patients were analysed. The proportions of patients experiencing symptoms often or always in the 4 weeks before hospitalization were: 63.8% it ching, 59.7% irritation, 46.1% burning/stinging, 39% sensitivity, 26% pa in (from 10% in guttate psoriasis to 50% in arthropathic)- , 25.4% bleedi ng (17% pustular, 19% localized plaque, 36% palmoplantar), and 23.9% bot hered by water (from 8.5% in the guttate form to 68% in palmoplantar). The p revalence of all symptoms was significantly higher in women and tended to increa se with clinical severity. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence of the high frequency of a number of symptoms in different subgroups of psoriasis patients d etermined by their sociodemographic characteristics, clinical type and disease s everity. Symptoms represent a serious disabling factor in patients affected by p soriasis, including those with low levels of psychological distress. Dermatologi sts should include symptoms in the evaluation of disease severity both in clinic al practice and in clinical trials.
Background: The main dermatology textbooks describe only in passing pruritus in psoriasis and rarely mention other symptoms. A quantification of the presence of symptoms is not available for clinical subgroups of psoriasis. Objectives: T o investigate the prevalence of symptoms experienced by patients with different clinical types of psoriasis. Methods: The study was carried out in patients hosp italized for psoriasis between February 2000 and February 2002 at the inpatient wards of the Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, Rome, Italy. Symptoms were evaluated using the symptoms scale of Skindex- 29. Clinical severity was assess ed by the dermatologists using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and by the patients completing the self-administered PASI. Psychiatric morbidity was evaluated using the 12- item General Health Questionnaire. Results: In tota l, 936 eligible patients were analysed. The proportions of patients experiencing symptoms often or always in the 4 weeks before hospitalization were: 63.8% it ching, 59.7% irritation, 46.1% burning/stinging, 39% sensitivity, 26% pa in (from 10% in guttate psoriasis to 50% in arthropathic)- , 25.4% bleedi ng (17% pustular, 19% localized plaque, 36% palmoplantar), and 23.9% bot hered by water (from 8.5% in the guttate form to 68% in palmoplantar). The p revalence of all symptoms was significantly higher in women and tended to increa se with clinical severity. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence of the high frequency of a number of symptoms in different subgroups of psoriasis patients d etermined by their sociodemographic characteristics, clinical type and disease s everity. Symptoms represent a serious disabling factor in patients affected by p soriasis, including those with low levels of psychological distress. Dermatologi sts should include symptoms in the evaluation of disease severity both in clinic al practice and in clinical trials.
