PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R G B Langley
AU  - G G Krueger
AU  - C E M Griffiths
TI  - Psoriasis: epidemiology, clinical features, and quality of life
AID  - 10.1136/ard.2004.033217
DP  - 2005 Mar 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - ii18--ii23
VI  - 64
IP  - suppl 2
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/64/suppl_2/ii18.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/64/suppl_2/ii18.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis2005 Mar 01; 64
AB  - Psoriasis is a common chronic, recurrent, immune mediated disease of the skin and joints. It can have a significant negative impact on the physical, emotional, and, psychosocial wellbeing of affected patients. Psoriasis is found worldwide but the prevalence varies among different ethnic groups. It has a strong genetic component but environmental factors such as infections can play an important role in the presentation of disease. There are several clinical cutaneous manifestations of psoriasis but most commonly the disease presents as chronic, symmetrical, erythematous, scaling papules and plaques. The epidemiology, clinical features, and impact on quality of life of psoriasis are reviewed.