title: Psoriasis: epidemiology.
abstract: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory and hyperproliferative skin disease with a genetic basis. While epidermal hyperplasia and altered keratinocyte differentiation are prominent features, considerable evidence indicates that psoriasis is immunologically mediated. Recently, the identification of HLA-Cw6 as the disease allele conferring susceptibility to psoriasis has provided a focus for elucidation of these events. In this article, we will focus on the epidemiology of psoriasis and its associated arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Box 0932, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0932, USA. johanng@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: Johann E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gudjonsson
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Elder
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000483:Alleles; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors