Gastric bypass surgery improves psoriasis

Recent studies have found that psoriasis is linked to a higher rate of obesity, and that obesity itself is a risk factor for the development of psoriasis. There are two recent reports of chronic severe psoriasis improving with weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. We have observed two patients with body mass indices greater than 50 kg/m² who had marked improvement in their psoriasis after gastric bypass surgery. The common link between psoriasis and obesity may be a state of chronic inflammation, including elevated levels of T helper 1 (TH-1) cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor. More recent research has shown that the appetite suppressant leptin is also elevated in patients with psoriasis and obesity, and that levels decrease with weight loss. We conclude that weight loss may be a useful adjunctive therapy for obese patients with psoriasis.

Key words: bariatric surgery, psoriasis, weight loss

Abbreviations used: BMI, body mass index, RYGBP, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, TH, T helper, TNF, tumor necrosis factor, UV, ultraviolet