Psoriasis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Psoriasis - Research Paper Example Thus, acceptance of the situation is an indispensable ingredient to maximize the clients’ adherence to any therapy. In this paper, the efficacy of the available treatment options for psoriasis will be comprehensively examined including the social issues affixed and outlook of the situation. In doing this, an overview of the disorder comprising the causes, risks, and pathophysiology will be briefly discussed. The cure for psoriasis has been a lifetime dream for dermatologists and affected clients. The quality of life of clients afflicted with psoriasis suffers greatly within 5 to 10 years after onset. Although it is not transmissible to other people, the appearance of the lesions affects the clients' social functioning (Winterfield et al, 2005). Traditional therapeutic regimens are continuously challenged by more recent discoveries in biochemistry and immunologic medicine. Some forms of treatment, like phototherapy and topical therapy, are used as a combination therapy rather t han used alone. In any case, minor and major adverse effects manifest themselves that limit the clients’ adherence to the prescribed therapy. Presently, medical practitioners continue to discover potential treatment options that would precipitate fewer side- effects. As the genetic correlation and immunologic alteration of the disorder are being studied, the use of biologic agents and gene therapy may become one of the treatment options in the future. Several scientists are becoming more and more aggressive in the treatment by using monoclonal antibodies purposely altered to suppress cell division of target cells (Winterfield et al, 2005). Pathophysiology The exact triggering mechanism involved in psoriasis consists of the dynamic interplay of individual factors and environment (Kumar et al, 2010). Although genetic predisposition to the condition has been recognized in some cases, the incidence of psoriasis remains relatively similar even in clients without a traceable family history. Moreover, the role of the environment as a risk factor can be seen in some clients when psoriatic lesions occur at areas with a history of skin injury, sunburn, and excoriation. Warm climates also appear to improve the condition (Ignatavicius and Workman, 2010). In addition, the immunologic causation of the condition can be observed in some clients who also developed debilitating arthritis. Because of this, psoriasis can be viewed as a systemic connective tissue disorder rather than a simple skin condition (McPhee et al, 2006). While it has been generally established that the onset of the condition occurs by 20 years of age, the condition may also manifest in older people at 57 to 60 years of age. Psoriasis is very common and affects nearly 1% to 2% of the population (Huether and McCance, 2006). The pathophysiologic basis of psoriasis highlights the involvement of an abnormality in the immune reaction in the skin which results from the overstimulation of the immune system (Kumar et al, 2010). Langerhans cells in the skin react with an unknown antigen, leading to T- lymphocyte activation which then attacks the keratinocytes. The resulting dermal inflammation causes scaling (McPhee et al, 2006). Normally, the cells in the basement membrane of the epidermis reach the outermost layer for about 27 days, while it only takes 4 to 5 days in the case of psoriasis. Cell maturation and keratinization are bypassed, thus the epidermis thickens and plaques form. Loosely cohesive keratin