Dermatológia pre prax 3/2017

Nail psoriasis and biologic treatment

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory immune mediated disease on genetic background which affects about 2-5% of the European population. 15 - 25% of psoriasis is in moderate to severe form. In patients with psoriasis is a higher incidence of several inflammatory type conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and others. Other common forms of psoriasis may affect the scalp, joints, or nails, even in patients without psoriasis of the skin. Among patients with plaque psoriasis, prevalence of nail psoriasis is over 50 %, with an estimated lifetime incidence of 80–90 % (1). There are a lot of undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis among patients with psoriasis. Early detection and treatment of psoriatic arthritis could, allow the prevention of clinical and radiologic progression of the disease. Biologic systemic treatments, such as all anti-tumor necrosis factor-(TNF) α, anti-interleukin (IL)-17, and anti-IL-12/23 antibodies which are available for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are highly effective treatments for nail psoriasis. Dermatologists may play a key role in the early detection and management of psoriatic arthritis.

Keywords: nail psoriasis, clinical picture, treatment