Alarbman
01-04-2006, 01:46 AM
FYI From Medscape.com:
Smoking Linked to Onset and Severity of Psoriasis
By Anthony J. Brown, MD
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Dec 28 - Smoking appears to play a role in the onset and severity of psoriasis, according to the findings from two studies appearing the December issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
Dr. Gerald G. Krueger, from the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, and colleagues compared the prevalence of smoking and obesity in 557 psoriasis patients with that seen in the three population databases.
Thirty-seven percent of psoriasis patients were smokers, whereas the percentage in the other groups was significantly lower, ranging from 13% to 25% (p < 0.001 for all).
Similarly, obesity was noted in 34% of psoriasis patients compared with 18% of subjects in the general Utah population. Further analysis of changes in body image perception over time suggested that, unlike smoking, obesity was a consequence rather than a cause of psoriasis.
"We had hypothesized that obesity would alter TNF levels, which in turn, would affect the onset of psoriasis," Dr. Krueger told Reuters Health. "This, however, does not seem to be the case. Rather, it appears that psoriasis has an adverse effect on body image, which may lead patients to adapt unhealthy lifestyles," such as excessive eating and limited exercise.
By contrast, smoking seems to have a direct pathogenic effect on psoriasis, Dr. Krueger said. The mechanism appears to involve alterations in the levels of certain cytokines, which adversely affect the immune system, he added.
"Smoking appears to have a role in the onset of psoriasis, but obesity does not," the investigators conclude. If the findings are confirmed, they "support the prediction that a significant portion of patients with psoriasis will have the comorbid conditions and public health issues of those with obesity and smoking."
In the other study, Dr. Cristina Fortes, from Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata in Rome, and colleagues analyzed data from 818 psoriasis patients to assess the relationship between smoking status and disease severity.
Smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day, compared with smoking 10 or fewer, raised the risk of severe psoriasis by more than two-fold, the report indicates. Likewise, the duration and intensity of smoking were directly related to psoriasis severity, particularly in women.
These findings "highlight the importance of smoking cessation in patients with psoriasis," the authors emphasize.
Arch Dermatol 2005;141:1527-1534,1580-1584.
Smoking Linked to Onset and Severity of Psoriasis
By Anthony J. Brown, MD
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Dec 28 - Smoking appears to play a role in the onset and severity of psoriasis, according to the findings from two studies appearing the December issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
Dr. Gerald G. Krueger, from the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, and colleagues compared the prevalence of smoking and obesity in 557 psoriasis patients with that seen in the three population databases.
Thirty-seven percent of psoriasis patients were smokers, whereas the percentage in the other groups was significantly lower, ranging from 13% to 25% (p < 0.001 for all).
Similarly, obesity was noted in 34% of psoriasis patients compared with 18% of subjects in the general Utah population. Further analysis of changes in body image perception over time suggested that, unlike smoking, obesity was a consequence rather than a cause of psoriasis.
"We had hypothesized that obesity would alter TNF levels, which in turn, would affect the onset of psoriasis," Dr. Krueger told Reuters Health. "This, however, does not seem to be the case. Rather, it appears that psoriasis has an adverse effect on body image, which may lead patients to adapt unhealthy lifestyles," such as excessive eating and limited exercise.
By contrast, smoking seems to have a direct pathogenic effect on psoriasis, Dr. Krueger said. The mechanism appears to involve alterations in the levels of certain cytokines, which adversely affect the immune system, he added.
"Smoking appears to have a role in the onset of psoriasis, but obesity does not," the investigators conclude. If the findings are confirmed, they "support the prediction that a significant portion of patients with psoriasis will have the comorbid conditions and public health issues of those with obesity and smoking."
In the other study, Dr. Cristina Fortes, from Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata in Rome, and colleagues analyzed data from 818 psoriasis patients to assess the relationship between smoking status and disease severity.
Smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day, compared with smoking 10 or fewer, raised the risk of severe psoriasis by more than two-fold, the report indicates. Likewise, the duration and intensity of smoking were directly related to psoriasis severity, particularly in women.
These findings "highlight the importance of smoking cessation in patients with psoriasis," the authors emphasize.
Arch Dermatol 2005;141:1527-1534,1580-1584.