PSORIASIS - CLINICAL ASPECTS AND PATHOPHY SIOLOGY

Psoriasis is a skin disease that originates as a consequence of homeos tatic disturbances between epithelial cells (keratinocytes), connectiv e tissue cells (fibrocytes), and inflammatory cells in genetically pre disposed individuals. It is yet difficult to separate disturbances of pathogenetic relevance from those which are mere epiphenomena. The var ious clinical manifestations of psoriasis are demonstrated in this rev iew and the pathogenesis is displayed on the basis of 2 pathways which may interact on different levels: (1) Hyperproliferation due to incre ased production of growth factors which stimulate the epidermis to bec ome hyperplastic. (2) T-cell activation and subsequent alteration in t he expression and secretory profile for various cytokines and adhesion molecules in the skin.