The Significance of Infections in the Origination of Psoriasis

Summary and ConclusionThe first of the investigations presented discloses that in a random-sampled psoriasis clientele (66 patients) the number of positive streptococcal O-agglutination tests in the titre range, 1:40 to 1:320, is seven times higher than in a simultaneously examined, random-sampled venereological clientele (68 patients). As a rule, the strongest reactions were noted in patients with guttate psoriasis. — The second, and above all, the third investigation relate to cases with eruptions of psoriasis following throat infections, but show in the first place that AST titres of 200 units and more are nearly three times more common in a case series (32 patients) with acute eruption of psoriasis than in normal subjects. — Again, the fourth investigation shows that of 65 patients with suddenly arising psoriasis, in particular guttate psoriasis, 64% had had infections of the upper respiratory tract, as a rule tonsillitis, 1 to 3 weeks prior to the eruption of psoriasis. Another 6 patients included in...