Amer Ejaz, Majid Suhail, Arshi Iftikhar.
Psoriasis in Pakistani population: Associations, comorbidities, and hematological profile.
J Pak Assoc Derma Jan ;23(1):42-6.

Objective To observe the clinical features, laboratory profile, associations and comorbidities of psoriasis in a segment of Pakistani population. Patients and methods This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out at PAF base hospital, Sargodha from January 2010 to December 2010. One hundred consecutive patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis were included in the study. The diagnosis was confirmed by one of the consultant dermatologists. Pretested, especially designed questionnaire was filled by all the participating patients. Information regarding age, sex, duration of disease, clinical type and severity of disease, nail and joint involvement, koebnerization, associated diseases, and hematological profile including hemoglobin level, blood ESR, uric acid level and its association with joint involvement were recorded. Results Out of the 100 consecutive patients included in the study, 71 were males and 29 were females. Mean age of onset was 39.8 years. 88 patients had chronic plaque psoriasis, 8 had guttate and 4 had erythrodermic psoriasis. 46 patients had some sort of joint involvement and 29 patients had some sort of nail involvement. Only 14 patients gave history of koebnerization. Only 10 patients had associated skin disease while 15 patients had some associated medical disease. Mean hemoglobin levels were 13.25 gm/dl. Mean ESR was 22.6 mm/h. Rise in serum uric acid level was significantly associated with psoriatic arthritis. Conclusion Pakistani patients with psoriasis are more likely to have a lower hemoglobin and a raised ESR. Rise in serum uric acid level is associated with joint involvement.

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