The role of Helicobacter pylori enfection in psoriasis patients

Aim: Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory and hyperproliferative skin disease. Enfections especially group A beta hemolitic streptococcus may play a crucial role in triggering psoriasis. For this reason, it was aimed to detect the role of H.pylori that is a gram-negative curved or spiral bacterium in triggering psoriasis.Materials and Methods: A total of clinically diagnosed 56 psoriatic patients (mean age 38.4±14.08 years; 32 men, 24 women) who applied to Dermatology Outpatient Clinic, Medical Faculty, İnönü University between July 2009 and December 2009, were included in the study. As control group, 57 patients (men age, 37.9±13.73 years; 26 men, 31 women) that have not psoriasis and H.pylori associated dermatologic diseases were included in the study. All patients and control group were tested for H.pylori by urea breath test (UBT).Results: 38 (%67.9) of 56 psoriasis patients and 38 (%66.7) of 57 control group were positive for H.pylori. There was no statistically significant difference between psoriasis patients and controls with respect to urea breath test (p=0.89). 24 of 33 psoriasis patients with nail involvement were positive for H.pylori (%72.7) and 14 of 23 psoriasis patient that not nail involvement were positive for H.pylori (%60.9). The UBT positivity rate which is related to the type of psoriasis was as follows: plaque, 34/46 (%73.9); guttate, 4/7 (%57.1); erythroderma, 0/1 (%0); pustular, 0/1 (%0); palmoplantar, 0/1 (%0).Conclusion: We couldn?t determined the role of H.pylori in the psoriasis. There have been some reports about the association of H.pylori and palmoplantar pustuler psoriasis. Therefore, we think that there is a need for newer studies in large psoriasis group with tests which have higher specifity and sensitivity.Key words: Psoriasis, Helicobacter pylori, C14 urea breath test