Guideline on the management of psoriasis in South Africa
Date
2010-04
Authors
Raboobee, N.
Aboobaker, J.
Jordaan, H. F.
Sinclair, W.
Smith, J. M.
Todd, G.
Weiss, R.
Whitaker, D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG)
Abstract
Background. Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic, relapsing, immunemediated,
potentially devastating disease, influenced by
genetic and environmental factors, that can cause substantial
morbidity and psychological stress and have a profound
negative impact on patient quality of life.
Objective. These guidelines for the management of psoriasis
have been developed in an attempt to improve the outcomes
of treatment of this condition in South Africa. Psoriasis has
a major impact on the quality of life of sufferers, and it is
expected that these guidelines, if implemented, will play a
role in achieving improved outcome.
Scope. These guidelines were developed to address the
diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis, of differing degrees
of severity and in patients of all ages, by all health care
professionals involved with its management.
Recommendations. All health care workers involved in
the management of psoriasis should take note of these
guidelines and try to implement them in clinical practice
as far as possible. All treatment methods and procedures
not substantiated by evidence from the literature should be
discontinued and avoided to decrease the financial burden of
psoriasis treatment.
Validation. These guidelines were developed through general
consensus by a group of 8 South African dermatologists (the
’Working Group’) sanctioned by the Dermatological Society
of South Africa (DSSA), by adaptation for the South African
situation of the current guidelines used in the USA, the UK,
Germany, Canada and Finland. Draft documents were made
available for comment to the dermatological community as a
whole via the official website of the DSSA, and the guidelines
were presented and discussed at the annual congress of
the DSSA in 2008. All input from these sources, where
appropriate, were then incorporated into these guidelines.
Guidelines sponsor. Schering-Plough initiated the project and
sponsored the meetings of the working group and all costs
generated by these meetings.
Plans for guideline revision. The field of biologicals and
cytokine modulators is in a rapid phase of development, and
revision of the scope and content of these guidelines will be
ongoing as longer-term data emerge.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
Keywords
Psoriasis -- South Africa
Citation
Raboobee, N. et al. 2010. Guideline on the management of psoriasis in South Africa. South African Medical Journal, 100(4):257-282.