Practical and user-friendly, this is the ideal guide to the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis, helping you navigate a logical management pathway through a complex maze of possibilities.Psoriasis is a cruel disease that can seriously affect the sufferers quality and length of life. It is also highly idiosyncratic, with features that vary greatly from patient to patient; this being mirrored in the highly variable response to treatment. It is increasingly recognized that psoriasis is not a discrete disease and that many patients suffer two or three comorbid conditions that can complicate the efforts of doctors treating patients.Psoriasis: Diagnosis and Management will provide dermatologists of all levels with a practical, well-illustrated approach to fully understanding the disease, including clear, clinical guidance to enable best-practice and effective management of patients.In full color throughout and excellently illustrated, key highlights include:

easily understandable description of the psoriasis pathogenesis;a strong emphasis on the clinical features of psoriasis;careful consideration of comorbid conditions as part of the psoriatic spectrum to be managed;coverage of both traditional and contemporary management approaches;plenty of diagnostic algorithms and management protocols to aid the daily practical care of patients.

Brought to you by several of the worlds leading authorities on the subject,Psoriasis: Diagnosis and Management is an essential purchase for the dermatologist.

Wolfram Sterry, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, University Hospital Charité, Berlin, Germany.

Robert Sabat, MD, Head of Psoriasis Research and Treatment Center, Department of Dermatology and Allergy/Institute of Medical Immunology, University Hospital Charité, Berlin, Germany.

Sandra Philipp, MD, Senior Physician, Psoriasis Research and Treatment Center, Department of Dermatology and Allergy/Institute of Medical Immunology, University Hospital Charité, Berlin, Germany

List of contributors, vii

Preface, ix

Part I: Epidemiology and economic aspects

1 Epidemiology and economic aspects, 3Luigi Naldi, Simone Cazzaniga, and Giovanna Rao

2 Cost-effective psoriasis management, 11Luigi Naldi, Simone Cazzaniga, and Giovanna Rao

Part II: Etiology and pathogenesis

3 Microscopic skin alterations, 21Kerstin Wolk, Hans-Joachim Röwert-Huber, and Robert Sabat

4 Pathogenesis of psoriasis, 28Robert Sabat and Kerstin Wolk

5 Genetics of psoriasis, 49Ellen Witte and Robert Sabat

Part III: Clinical features/diagnostic procedure

6 Plaque psoriasis, 57Wolfram Sterry

7 Gutatte psoriasis, 76Wolfram Sterry and Frank Bachmann

8 Erythrodermic psoriasis, 81Wolfram Sterry

9 Pustular psoriasis, 84Sandra Philipp

10 Nail psoriasis, 93Sandra Philipp

11 Psoriatic arthritis, 98Marina Backhaus

12 Mucosal presentation of psoriasis, 108Georgios Kokolakis

13 Psoriasis in different life situations, 112Sandra Philipp

Part IV: Evaluation of disease severity

14 Evaluation of disease severityclinical scores and questionnaires, 129Frank Bachmann

Part V: Psoriasis and associated diseases

15 Psoriasis and associated diseases, 143Steven M. Nwe and Kenneth B. Gordon

Part VI: Therapeutic management

16 Therapeutic aim of psoriasis therapy, 161Sandra Philipp

17 Treatment of plaque psoriasis, 163

Topical therapy of psoriasis, 163Knud Kragballe

Phototherapy and photochemotherapy, 175Erhard Hölzle

Classical systemic treatments, 184Peter C.M. van de Kerkhof

Biologics, 197Sandra Philipp

18 Special therapeutic aspects, 214Wolfram Sterry

19 Combination treatments, 221Peter C.M. van de Kerkhof

20 Optimizing adherence to treatment, 228Frank Bachmann

21 Psoriasis therapy in children, 233Sandra Philipp

22 Therapy of psoriasis during pregnancy, 241Sandra Philipp

23 Recent and future developments in targeted therapy, 249Caitriona Ryan and Alan Menter

Index, 268