Comparative study of human papilloma virus in untreated and ultraviolet-treated psoriatic patients

• Published in: Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 78 - 82
• Main Authors: Salem, Samar Abdallah Mohamed, Fakkar, Nehal Mohamed Zuel, Fathi, Ghada, El-Reheem, Sameh Mostafa Abd, El-Tabakh, Alaa Abd El-monem, Ragab, Dalia Mitwalli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2010; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; epidermodysplasia verruciformis; Female; human papilloma virus; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Papillomaviridae - metabolism; Papillomavirus Infections - etiology; Papillomavirus Infections - metabolism; photochemotherapy; psoriasis; Psoriasis - metabolism; Psoriasis - pathology; Psoriasis - virology; Psoriasis. Parapsoriasis. Lichen; PUVA Therapy - adverse effects; Human; Skin disease; Treatment; Psoriasis; Dermatology; photochemotherapy; epidermodysplasia verruciformis; Papilloma; Benign neoplasm; human papilloma virus; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0905-4383; 1600-0781
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2010.00492.x

Background: Psoriasis is a proliferative disease, and human papilloma virus (HPV) may be one of the causative factors underlying its pathogenesis. Aim of the study: To study whether the presence of the virus in psoriatic patients is due to the proliferative nature of the disease or due to the immunosuppression induced in patients receiving phototherapy. Patients and methods: Using a nested polymerase chain reaction, a skin biopsy was taken and examined for HPV expression in 20 untreated psoriatic patients, 20 psoriasis patients under phototherapy [narrow band ultraviolet B (UVB)], 20 psoriasis patients under systemic photochemotherapy (psoralen and UVA), 10 healthy controls, and 10 non‐psoriatic patients under UV treatment. Results: The virus detection rate in psoriatic patients under photochemotherapy (60%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared with the other groups, while the frequency of the virus in the untreated psoriatic group (0%) was statistically insignificant compared with the normal control group (20%). Conclusion: UV treatment may be an underlying factor predisposing patients with psoriasis to infectivity by HPV together with other factors.