Clinical profile of psoriasis in North India.

A prospective study of 530 patients of psoriasis drawn from northern parts of India revealed a male preponderance; 60% patients having onset before the age of 30 years; youngest age at onset being one week and the oldest 72 years. Family history was positive in 14% cases. Only 30% psoriatics showed clear cut worsening in winter months. Skin and scalp were the commonest sites; 54% had nail changes when first seen and in 8 patients involvement of nails was the only manifestation of psoriasis. Joint symptoms were present in 10% of cases but frank arthritis was seen in only 7 cases. The presence of joint affection was invariably associated with nail abnormalities. Psoriatic arthritis among the Indian patients is not only rare but shows a milder course as compared to the western countries.