Genetics and classification of psoriasis

Abstract

A psoriasis suspectibility gene is located on chromosome 6 closely linked with the HLA-Cw6 gene. It is most likely dominant and its gene frequency is about 0.02. The influence of environmental factors is essential and possibly also other genes are needed for the manifestation of psoriasis.

The guttate, plaque and erythrodermic types of psoriasis are both clinically and genetically closely related. Flexural psoriasis may be a disease different from psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis and generalized pustular psoriasis are associated with HLA-B27 and obviously are diseases more closely related to Reiter's disease than psoriasis.

Key Words:

• psoriasis
• genetics
• classification