ABSTRACT

Objective:

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory and hyperproliferative skin disease. It was aimed to detect the role of H. pylori in triggering psoriasis.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 56 clinically diagnosed psoriatic patients who applied to the dermatology outpatient clinic, were included in the study. As the control group, 57 patients who do not have psoriasis and H. pylori associated dermatologic diseases were included in the study. All patients and control group were tested for H. pylori by the urea-breath test (UBT).

Results:

Thirty-eight (67.9%) of 56 psoriasis patients (mean age 38.4±14.08 years; 32 men, 24 women) and 38 (66.7%) of 57 control group(men age, 37.9±13.73 years; 26 men, 31 women) were positive for H. pylori. There was no statistically significant difference between psoriasis patients and controls with respect to the urea breath test (p=0.89). UBT was positive in all patiens who have gastrointestinal reflux.

Conclusion:

We could not determine the role of H. pylori in psoriasis. There have been some reports about the association of H. pylori and palmoplantar pustular psoriasis. Therefore, we believe that there is a need for newer studies in a large psoriasis group with tests which have higher specificity and sensitivity. (Turk J Dermatol 2011; 5: 39-42)