Autoimmunity and Autoimmune Co-Morbidities in Psoriasis
January 2018
in “
Immunology
”
TLDR Psoriasis is linked to other autoimmune diseases and involves a specific inflammatory process.
The document reviewed the autoimmune characteristics of psoriasis and its association with other autoimmune diseases. Psoriasis, which presents as scaly erythematous plaques, not only causes significant distress but is also driven by an inflammatory process involving the tumour necrosis factor-α/interleukin-23/interleukin-17 axis. The autoimmune aspect is evidenced by the presence of autoreactive T cells. Moreover, psoriasis is frequently co-morbid with other autoimmune conditions such as autoimmune bullous diseases, vitiligo, alopecia, and thyroiditis. The article discussed recent findings related to the autoimmunity and the co-occurrence of these autoimmune diseases in individuals with psoriasis.