title: A global approach to psoriatic patients through PASI score and Skindex-29.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disorder affecting approximately 2% of the population worldwide. Because of its visible manifestations and symptoms, psoriasis has profound effects on quality of life (QoL). Our objective is to determine the clinical severity of psoriasis and its impact on QoL in patients treated with phototherapy, traditional systemic therapy and biological therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with plaque-type psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis were recruited at a PsoCare centre and followed up for 6 months. Psoriasis severity was assessed based on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score and QoL using the SKINDEX-29 questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PASI score improved significantly in all patients after 6 months of therapy. The greatest improvement was observed in patients receiving biological treatments. PASI-75 was obtained by 46.9% of patients on phototherapy and 43.1% on biological therapies. Skindex-29 results did not significantly differ among the three treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective management of patients with psoriasis depends on the appropriate assessment of both the physical and psychosocial impact of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, Division of Clinical, Preventive and Oncologic DermatologyUniversity of Florence, Florence, Italy. francesca.prignano@unifi.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prignano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruffo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricceri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pescitelli
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lotti
mesh_terms: D017255:Acitretin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D004644:Emotions; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D016572:Cyclosporine; D005492:Folic Acid; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D017255:Acitretin; D000068800:Etanercept; D008727:Methotrexate