Treatment of Severe Psoriasis with Systemic Drugs

Camisa, Charles MD

Charles Camisa, MD, is Head, Section of Clinical Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH.

Dermatology Nursing 7(2):p 107-120, April 1995.

Psoriasis, a common papulosquamous skin disease of unknown cause, affects 2% of the U.S. population with 150,000-200,000 new cases annually. Systemic drug treatment of severe psoriasis includes retinoids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, hydroxyurea, sulfasalazine, and calcitriol. It is important for dermatology nurses to understand the effects of these medications when treating patients who have severe psoriasis.