title: Psoriasis associated with hepatitis C but not with hepatitis B.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between psoriasis and viral hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psoriasis patients were compared to controls regarding the prevalence of viral hepatitis in a case-control study using logistic multivariate models. The study was performed utilizing the medical database of Clalit Health Services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 12,502 psoriasis patients >20 years old and 24,287 age- and sex-matched controls. The prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with psoriasis was increased compared to the prevalence in controls (1.03 vs. 0.56%; p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, psoriasis was associated with hepatitis C. An interaction with smoking was noted (smokers: odds ratio, OR = 1.93, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.30-2.67; nonsmokers: OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.63-3.04). The prevalence of hepatitis B in patients with psoriasis was higher than in the controls (0.74 vs. 0.56%; p = 0.043). However, in a multivariate analysis psoriasis was not associated with hepatitis B (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 0.93-1.60, p = 0.15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observation supports previous reports of an association between psoriasis and hepatitis C but not with hepatitis B. Physicians who care for patients with psoriasis should be aware of this possible association and consider screening patients with psoriasis for hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Clalit Health Services, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Arnon D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Dahlia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weitzman
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Birkenfeld
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dreiher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult