1.Psoriasis Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: Data from the Malaysian Psoriasis Registry
Yeon Chiat Teh ; Suganthy Robinson ; Wooi Chiang Tan ; Zhenli Kwan ; Min Moon Tang
Malaysian Journal of Dermatology 2021;46(June 2021):2-10
Background:
Psoriasis can be a presenting feature of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Our objective
was to determine the frequency of HIV infection among patients with psoriasis and to describe the
clinical features, treatment and quality of life in this population.
Methods:
This is a multi-centre retrospective cross-sectional study of psoriasis patients who were registered to
the Malaysian Psoriasis Registry (MPR) from January 2007 to December 2018.
Results:
Of a total of 21,735 patients registered, 105 (0.5%) had HIV infection. Among these patients, 90
(85.0%) were male, mean age was 40.90 ± 10.85 years, and plaque psoriasis was the most frequently
encountered presentation (85.7%). Significantly more patients with HIV had severe psoriasis (61.3%
vs 49.9%, p=0.043), face and neck (62.7% vs 51.4%, p=0.022) involvement, and nail disease (69.9% vs
56.2%, p=0.005) compared to those without HIV. Only n patients (8.7%) had psoriatic arthropathy, and
only 9 (8.8%) received systemic therapy, namely acitretin and methotrexate. None received a biologic,
and only one patient was treated with narrowband ultraviolet-B therapy. The mean Dermatology Life
Quality Index (DLQI) score at enrolment was 10.98 ± 7.07 for the HIV cohort compared to 8.68 ±
6.60 for the non-HIV cohort (t=2.190, p=0.029). More patients with HIV reported a DLQI score >10
compared to those without HIV (51.5% vs 40.2%, p=0.021).
Conclusion
The frequency of HIV infection among patients with psoriasis in the MPR was 0.5%. Patients with
HIV had more severe disease, more nail, face and neck involvement, and greater impairment of quality
of life. Treatment of HIV patients with psoriasis remains conservative in Malaysia.
HIV Infections
;
Psoriasis