PsEma--a hitherto unnamed dermatologic entity with clinical features of both psoriasis and eczema.

INTRODUCTION

Recent advances in molecular biology have helped establish differences between psoriasis and a group of inflammatory skin disorders commonly referred to as eczema. The authors have observed significant overlap between these two conditions such that a distinction between them may not always be made, even with histologic examination of skin biopsy specimens.

OBJECTIVE

To determine how frequently psoriasis patients present features of both psoriasis and eczema.

METHODS

The authors conducted a prospective analysis of 100 consecutive psoriasis patients in their clinic.

RESULTS

The authors found that 20% could be diagnosed as "intermediate," having lesions with characteristics of both psoriasis and eczema, or a personal history of both. The authors suggest naming this category of inflammatory dermatosis "PsEma"--an overlap condition in which the clinical, histologic, molecular, biologic, and therapeutic responses show characteristics of both psoriasis and eczema.