Psoriasis - Diagnosis

Diagnosis

The diagnosis for psoriasis is usually based on evaluating the patient visually.

A full medical history and a visual examination of the skin, nails, scalp, joints and skin-folds to look at the distribution of the typical silvery scales can help in the establishing the diagnosis of psoriasis.

A skin scraping or a biopsy and examination under microscope can be carried out to rule out some other disorders, thereby confirming the diagnosis for psoriasis.

Rete pegs are inner like projections from the dermis and the epidermis. In psoriasis- affected individuals these projections appear clubbed.

Another diagnostic sign is that when the plaques are scrapped there is bleeding from the skin beneath.

Psoriasis is often graded as follows-

• <3% of body affected-mild
• 3-10% of body affected -moderate
• >10% of body affected -severe

Certain studies have found that 35% of individuals with psoriasis are found as having moderate to severe psoriasis .

The severity of the disease is assessed based on-

• The surface area affected,
• The nature of the plaques,
• The response of the disease to treatment, and
• The impact on the victim, its effect on self-esteem

In case of Psoriatic arthritis, blood tests are done to differentiate it from other forms of arthritis, such as Rheumatoid arthritis. The Rh factor is present in Rheumatoid arthritis and not in Psoriatic arthritis.

References:

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b) J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 May;58(5):851-64
Gottlieb A, et al

c) J Reprod Med. 2008 Mar;53(3):183-7.
Ben-David G, Sheiner E, Hallak M, Levy A.

d) Clin Chim Acta. 2008 Apr 12.
Pietrzak AT, etal

e) Arch Dermatol Res. 2008 Apr 30
Gunes Y, etal

f)Principles & Practice of Medicine
Davidson

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