Assessment of the effect of psoriasis on male sexual function

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that psoriasis is associated with metabolic syndrome[4]. It was reported that there is a significant increased risk of metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis compared with controls even after adjustment for age, sex, race/ ethnicity, smoking, and C-reactive protein levels[5]. Genetic susceptibility and overlapping inflammatory pathways may be potential biological links underlying this association. The chronic and systemic T-helper-1-mediated and T-helper-17mediated inflammation of psoriasis characterized by increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, not only promotes epidermal hyperplasia in psoriasis but also antagonizes insulin signaling, alters adipokine expression, and mediates insulin resistance and obesity[6].