Autonomic dysfunction in psoriasis patients

Psoriasis is frequently seen, going on flame and remission period, with unknown etiology, generally unthreaten patients life, chronic and benign disease of skin. Absence of sweating in plaque psoriasis is related with retention hyperkeratosis. Therefore, absence of sweating in psoriasis can be caused by autonomic dysfunction like other some dermatosis which have dryness at the skin. In this study we aimed to evaluate the functioning of the autonomic nervous system using electrophysiologically test in with plaque psoriasis, and examine whether there is an underlying autonomic nervous system dysfunction.Fifty adult patients with plaque psoriasis and 20 healthy controls who apply to Fırat University Dermatology Clinic between January 2009 and January 2010 were included to this study. Autonomic nervous system function is evaulated by using R-R Interval Variation (RRIV) and Symphatic Skin Response (SSR) test in patients with psoriasis and healthy controls. SPSS 12.0 software was used for statistical analyse.There was no significant difference between the groups for the normal and deep breath of RRIV ( p>0.05). SSR test is used for measuring levels latency and amplitude of the upper and the lower extremities in the patients and control groups. Our study revealed that SSR latency and amplitude of the upper and lower extremities in the patient group was prolonged relative to the control group. Prolonged SSR latency of the upper extremity in the patient group was statistically significant (P<0.05), while the prolongation in amplitude of upper and lower extremite and latency of lower extremite were not ( P>0.05).As a result evaluation of autonomic nervous system our finding show that unmyelinated C fibres which innerved blood vessels of the skin and sweat glands are affected. We consider that the disfunction of sympathetic activity can contribute the absence of sweating in the disease.Key Words: Psoriasis, R-R Interval Variation, Symphatic Skin Response.