Psoriasis vulgaris and digestive system disorders: is there a linkage?

• Published in: Folia histochemica et cytobiologica 2009-01, Vol.47 (3), p.517-524
• Main Authors: Pietrzak, Aldona, Jastrzebska, Iwona, Chodorowska, Grazyna, Maciejewski, Ryszard, Dybiec, Ewa, Juszkiewicz-Borowiec, Maria, Krasowska, Dorota, Schwartz, Robert A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Clemastine - therapeutic use; Digestive System Diseases - complications; Digestive System Diseases - drug therapy; Digestive System Diseases - pathology; Disease Progression; Humans; Male; Psoriasis - complications; Psoriasis - drug therapy; Psoriasis - pathology; Terfenadine - analogs & derivatives; Terfenadine - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0239-8508; 1897-5631
• DOI: 10.2478/v10042-009-0107-y

Psoriasis is well-known immune-mediated skin disease often associated with co-morbidities, including dyslipidaemia and obesity. Few reports imply that the disease might be also related to pathology of mucosal surfaces, especially that of the digestive system. The authors present a case of psoriasis and concurrent digestive system abnormalities, and review the literature regarding the topic. A 40-year-old man suffered from an exacerbation of exudative psoriasis for about 6 months. Topical antipsoriatics proved ineffective and the disease gradually progressed to a severe disseminated form. Subsequent detailed examinations revealed persistent gastroduodenitis due to H. pylori infection, pancreatic dysfunction and fatty change of the liver, although the patient denied any gastrointestinal symptoms. As a result appropriate treatment of the diagnosed digestive system disorders was added to topical antipsoriatic therapy. Within 2 weeks of treatment clinical symptoms and laboratory signs showed a marked trend to normalisation. The presented medical history seems to suggest that there may be some kind of interplay between psoriasis and digestive system disorders.