Patient selection: psoriasis
Parameters:
(1) impact on quality of life (QOL)
(2) need for treatment
(3) hazards of therapy
(4) percent of body surface area (BSA) affected
(5) other factors
|
Parameter
|
Mild Psoriasis
|
Moderate Psoriasis
|
Severe Psoriasis
|
|
impact on QOL
|
little or none
|
some
|
significant
|
|
need for treatment
|
little or none
|
some
|
definite
|
|
hazards of therapy
|
little or none
|
little but may be bothersome or expensive to use
|
may be serious, often does not respond to therapy with minimal side effects
|
|
percent BSA
|
< 5%
|
2 to 20%
|
> 10%
|
Other factors that may make psoriasis severe:
(1) patient’s negative attitude about the disease (depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, etc)
(2) location of lesions (face, hands, fingernails, scalp, feet, genitals)
(3) arthralgias or arthritis
(4) symptoms
In mild disease the patient can minimize the impact of the disease so has some sense of control over the condition.
