Psoriasis is a common, chronic, systemic, inflammatory disease of the skin that is often associated with inflammatory musculoskeletal disease. Psoriasis impacts on affected individuals and on society at many levels, being associated with considerable economic burden and impaired quality of life. This article aims to provide dermatologists and their allied healthcare professionals, particularly those practicing in Africa and the Middle East, with a review of the current understanding of psoriasis, its treatment and impact, as a backdrop for further discussion of the management of psoriasis in these regions. Insight into the real-life, day-to-day challenges and unmet needs currently facing dermatologists in Africa and the Middle East is provided by the authors, most of whom are experienced dermatologists practicing in this region.

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Only 13 of 22 patients could be evaluated at the end of the study; seven patients withdrew from the study because of severe local pain during injection. Three of the 13 patients showed insignificant reduction in the height of keloids after interferon treatment. No serious laboratory abnormalities were detected.

A few open studies on small groups of patients have reported the efficacy of oral vitamin D, in the treatment of psoriasis. To further characterize the therapeutic potential of this agent a placebo-controlled double-blind study was undertaken on a larger group of patients. Vitamin D, (the active lu-hydroxy form) 1pg/day and a placebo in a similar presentation were given in coded vials to 50 patients. Slight improvement was observed in 9 (45%) patients receiving vitamin D, and 8 (38%) patients receiving placebo showed similar improvement, indicating that this regimen is not effective in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. (J Dermarol Treat (1990) 1: 243-245) rats exposed to ultraviolet irradiation. Biochemistry (1977) 3. Morimoto S, Kumahara Y, A patient with psoriasis cured by I-hydroxy vit D,. Med J Osaka Univ (1985) 3 5 51-4.