title: Genital psoriasis awareness program: physical and psychological care for patients with genital psoriasis.
abstract: Genital psoriasis is a neglected manifestation of psoriasis, although it affects numerous patients and has major effects on sexual quality of life (SQoL). We aimed to assess the value of specialised care for patients with genital psoriasis. Patients were treated for at least one year at a specialised research outpatient clinic with extensive attention for genital lesions and SQoL. The genital lesions were treated according to a stepwise algorithm. First follow-up was planned after 6 weeks; subsequent follow-up visits were scheduled every 3 months. At every visit, psoriasis severity and SQoL were measured with validated tools. Differences in scores between visits were analysed by a mixed model for repeated measures. Forty-two patients were included (M:F = 25:17). All objective and subjective genital psoriasis severity and QoL parameters improved significantly within the first follow-up period of approximately 6 weeks. In female patients, SQoL also significantly improved. In conclusion, genital psoriasis can relatively easy be treated within limited time exposure, resulting in significant improvement of QoL. Prompt and simple adjustments in the provided care are enough to accomplish this.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Radboud university medical center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. k.meeuwis@derma.umcn.nl.
authors.forename: Kim A P
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Meeuwis
authors.forename: Joanne A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: de Hullu
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: IntHout
authors.forename: Iris M P
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: Emilie E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Sparreboom
authors.forename: Leon F A G
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Massuger
authors.forename: Peter C M
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: van de Kerkhof
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Rossum
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000465:Algorithms; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019091:Critical Pathways; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D014807:Vitamin D