Medical Health Encyclopedia

Impaired Temperature Regulation. Erythrodermic psoriasis, in which psoriasis covers the entire skin, can cause abnormalities in the body's ability to regulate temperature.

Zumbusch Psoriasis. A combination of erythrodermic and pustular psoriasis causes a serious condition called Zumbusch psoriasis:

• The condition can develop abruptly.
• Symptoms may include fever, chills, weight loss, and muscle weakness.
• Patients may develop excessive fluid build-up, protein loss, and electrolyte imbalances. In such cases, hospitalization is required. Fluid and chemical balances must be restored and temperature stabilized as soon as possible.

Zumbusch psoriasis can be life threatening, particularly in the elderly. The condition is very rare in children and, if it occurs, tends to improve more quickly than in adults, possibly even without medication.

Complications of Psoriatic Arthritis

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Most cases of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are mild, but complications can occur:

• Severe joint deformity and destruction (called arthritis mutilans), generally in the small joints of the hands and feet, may develop. Studies report an incidence of about 5 - 16% of patients. Psoriasis patients with other arthritic conditions (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis) in the joints of the fingers tend to have a higher risk.
• People with PsA may have a higher risk for respiratory illnesses.

Some earlier studies indicated that patients with psoriatic arthritis had a shorter lifespan than the general population, but more recent ones have found no significant difference.