[The characteristics of the pathogenesis, course and treatment of psoriasis in younger and older patients].

A clinical and laboratory examination was carried out in two groups of patients with psoriasis who ranged from 20 to 30 years old (n = 20), aged 50 and older (n = 30). Associated pathology of the cardiovascular system was recordable in 32, digestive abnormalities--in 19 of the 50 patients. In the elderly patient group, disorders occurred 6 and 3 times as frequently as in the young group: blood count showed lowering of the level of hemoglobin, leucocytosis, eosinophilia, lymphocytosis, rise in the level of bilirubin, decrement in the phagocytic potential of neutrophiles as per averaged cytochemical coefficient, with defence reactivity (decreased level of T- and B-lymphocytes, increased CIC) being depressed. Bearing the findings obtained in mind, there has been instituted antiinflammatory, hyposensitizing, immunomodulating, vitamin, antioxidant, enterosorption complex therapy with making use of ultraviolet zonal irradiation and balneoprocedures together with ointments for external use. 20 elderly patients in addition to the above therapy treatment, were prescribed phenihidin, 0.01 gr on a three-times daily schedule, sublingual, and cholenzim per os, 0.3 gr. twice a day. There was significant improvement in this subgroup of patients on all the items of the test they had been exposed to.