MICROORGANISMS AND PSORIASIS

It has been suggested previously that psoriasis is best explained as a distinctive inflammatory response to a variety of microbial stimuli, all acting primarily through activation of the alternative complement pathway. For the past several years we have conducted a ''Problem Psor iasis Clinic'' based on that premise. Patients are questioned, examine d, and subjected to microbiologic laboratory investigations in an atte mpt to identify possibly relevant microorganisms, and then are treated with antibiotics. This article lists the most commonly found microorg anisms in psoriasis patients and describes the usual treatment for eac h. Results obtained with this approach compare favorably with those ac hieved with more usual antipsoriasis treatments. We recommend that a m icrobiologic investigation and a trial of antimicrobial treatment shou ld precede any plan to treat psoriasis patients with anything more tha n the simplest topical agents.