Abstract
Summary Nail changes in patients with psoriasis have been reported with varying prevalence. Onychomycosis has been reported in up to 47% of the psoriasis patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of nail abnormalities, onychomycosis in psoriasis and response to itraconazole treatment. We evaluated 312 patients suffering from psoriasis for nail changes and onychomycosis. Patients having laboratory confirmation of onychomycosis were treated with three courses of itraconazole (400 mg day-1 for 1 week). Of 312 patients with psoriasis, 67 (21.5%) patients had nail changes, 23 (34%) of them suffered from onychomycosis. Complete cure (clinical and mycological) was achieved in 30% of the patients with onychomycosis. The response to treatment of onychomycosis with itraconazole in psoriasis patients was found to be lower than in the general population. Considering the low response to onychomycosis systemic therapy in psoriatic patients and the potential side-effects of the treatment, the rationality of this treatment is questionable.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 340-343 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Mycoses |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2010 |
Keywords
- Itraconazole
- Onychomycosis
- Psoriasis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases