Severe skin forms of psoriasis in black africans: epidemiological, clinical, and histological aspects related to 56 cases.
Bacground. Psoriasis is an erythematosquamous dermatosis of chronic development. In sub-Saharan Africa, few studies have been focused on complicated forms of psoriasis. Objective. The aim is to describe epidemiological, clinical, and histological features of severe skin forms of psoriasis in Cote d'Ivoire. Material and Methods. The study was both cross-sectional and descriptive, that focused on patient admitted to the dermatology unit for complicated psoriasis, from January 1st, 1986, to December 31th, 2007. Results. Fifty-six patients admitted to hospital for severe skin forms of psoriasis were recorded and included in our study over 7.503 patients hospitalized during the study period. They represented 0.75% of cases. The average age was 39.6 ± 3.3 years. There were 49 male (87.5%) and 7 female patients (12.5%) with a sex ratio of 7. At socioprofessional level, 48 patients (87.5%) were from category 1. Patients' history was dominated by the psoriasis vulgaris. Physical and general signs were dominated by itching (58.9%). The three severe skin forms were observed with predominant erythrodermic psoriasis (60.7%). Fifteen patients (34.9%) were HIV positive. Conclusion. Severe skin forms of psoriasis are rare in our setting. But in the quarter of HIV-positive patients, they are dominated by the erythrodermic psoriasis.
Department of Dermatology and Infectiology, Training and Research Unit of Medical Sciences, Félix Houphouët Boigny University (FHBU) of Abidjan-Cocody, Abidjan 21 BP 5151, Cote d'Ivoire.
Komenan
K
Kassi
Training and Research Unit of Medical Sciences, University of Bouaké, Bouaké 01 BP V18, Cote d'Ivoire ; Mother Maria Elisa Andreoli Health Center, Cocody Riviera Palmeraie, Cidex 3, Abijan-Riviera BP 51, Cote d'Ivoire.
Oussou Armel
OA
Mienwoley
Department of Histopathology, University Hospital of Treichville, Abidjan 01 BP V3, Cote d'Ivoire.
Mohamed
M
Kouyate
Department of Histopathology, University Hospital of Treichville, Abidjan 01 BP V3, Cote d'Ivoire.
Sylvanus
S
Koui
Department of Dermatology and Infectiology, Training and Research Unit of Medical Sciences, Félix Houphouët Boigny University (FHBU) of Abidjan-Cocody, Abidjan 21 BP 5151, Cote d'Ivoire.
Kouame A
KA
Kouassi