Throat Infections are Associated with Exacerbation in a Substantial Proportion of Patients with Chronic Plaque Psoriasis

• Published in: Acta dermato-venereologica Vol. 96; no. 6; pp. 788 - 791
• Main Authors: Thorleifsdottir, Ragna H, Eysteinsdóttir, Jenna H, Olafsson, Jón H, Sigurdsson, Martin I, Johnston, Andrew, Valdimarsson, Helgi, Sigurgeirsson, Bardur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden 23.08.2016
• Subjects: Adult; chronic plaque psoriasis; Female; Humans; Male; Pharyngitis - microbiology; Pharyngitis - surgery; Psoriasis - microbiology; Retrospective Studies; sore throat; Streptococcal Infections - complications; Streptococcal Infections - surgery; streptococcal throat infections; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tonsillectomy
• ISSN: 0001-5555; 1651-2057; 1651-2057
• DOI: 10.2340/00015555-2408

Streptococcal throat infections are known to trigger or exacerbate psoriasis, and several studies support the benefit of tonsillectomy. To evaluate the potential of tonsillectomy as a treatment, we used a retrospective study-specific questionnaire to assess the proportion of psoriasis patients with sore throat-associated psoriasis exacerbations. Our survey sampled 275 psoriasis patients. Of patients with plaque psoriasis, 42% reported sore throat-associated psoriasis exacerbations, and of patients with confirmed streptococcal infections, 72% reported aggravation. Notably, women and patients with early onset psoriasis were more likely to report psoriasis exacerbation after a sore throat (p < 0.001, p = 0.046, respectively). Other psoriasis aggravation factors were more common in patients with sore throat-associated exacerbations (p < 0.01). Of tonsillectomized patients, 49% reported subsequent improvement and had more frequent sore throat-associated aggravation of psoriasis than patients who did not improve after tonsillectomy (p = 0.015). These findings suggest a closer association between sore throats, streptococcal throat infections and plaque psoriasis than reported previously.