title: Possible association of hepatitis C virus infection with late-onset psoriasis: a hospital-based observational study.
abstract: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease mainly involving the skin and joints, mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. In hepatitis C, continuous inflammation mediated by TNF-α leads to liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus. Hence, psoriasis and hepatitis C have pathophysiological factors in common. An epidemiological association between the two conditions has been reported, but no detailed research has yet been performed. Frequency of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was assessed in 717 patients with psoriasis and 38 057 with all other dermatological diseases who visited Fukuoka University Hospital in 1998-2011. HCV⁺ and HCV⁻ psoriatic patients were further compared. Frequency of HCV infection was significantly higher in psoriasis (7.5%) than in controls (3.3%) in overall ages. When stratified by age at the first visit, the frequency was significantly higher in patients with psoriasis than in controls aged in their 60s (11.8% vs 6.6%, respectively, P = 0.0215) and 70s (19.5% vs 7.3%, P < 0.0001). HCV⁺ psoriatic patients were significantly older at onset than HCV⁻ ones (median, 54 vs 39 years), stronger male predominance (male/female ratio, 4.4:1), similar family history of psoriasis, higher association of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and significantly lower body mass index (22.4 ± 2.73 vs 24.2 ± 4.61), in age-stratified (≥ 40 years) analysis. HCV⁺ psoriatic patients were less obese, but still had a higher frequency of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, possibly due to chronic inflammation in the liver and other organs. HCV infection may trigger psoriasis, especially late-onset psoriasis, possibly via overproduction of TNF-α, a common mediator of the two conditions.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Shinichi
authors: S
authors: Imafuku
authors: Reiko
authors: R
authors: Naito
authors: Juichiro
authors: J
authors: Nakayama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D012744:Sex Ratio; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: epidemiology; hepatitis C virus; metabolic syndrome; psoriasis; tumor necrosis factor-alpha