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- Title
PSORIASIS AND PREGNANCY: HORMONE AND IMMUNE SYSTEM INTERACTION.
- Authors
Boyd, Alan S.; Morris, Laura F.; Phillips, Charles M.; Menter, M. Alan
- Abstract
<em>Background</em>. Various hormonal states are known to be associated with the waxing and waning of psoriasis. Patients with psoriasis commonly experience changes in their cutaneous disease during pregnancy or post partum. <em>Objective</em>. We evaluated 100 women with psoriasis by questionnaire and interview. The women had been seen at the Baylor Psoriasis Center, Dallas, and had experienced a pregnancy while having psoriasis. The answers were sorted and tabulated. In addition, we reviewed the literature to ascertain possible causes of clinical changes in psoriasis during pregnancy. <em>Results</em>. Ninety questionnaires were completed. Sixty-nine women (76.7%) described a change in their psoriasis during pregnancy with 57 (63.3%) noting improvement. Seventy-nine patients (87.7%) had a postpartum flare, most within 4 months of delivery. <em>Conclusions</em>. The majority of women with psoriasis, who become pregnant, experience a change, usually an improvement, in their cutaneous disease. Pregnancy is associated with hormonal changes in estrogens and progesterone resulting in a state of altered immune surveillance.
- Subjects
PREGNANCY; WOMEN'S health; HORMONE resistance; IMMUNE system; DISEASES in women; SKIN diseases
- Publication
International Journal of Dermatology, 1996, Vol 35, Issue 3, p169
- ISSN
0011-9059
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-4362.1996.tb01632.x