Drugs inducing or exacerbating psoriasis

Drug ingestion may play an important role in the induction and exacerbation of psoriasis. Drugs may directly induce the occurrence of psoriasis in susceptible individuals, or cause the recurrence or exacerbation of preexisting psoriasis. In view of their relationship with psoriasis, drugs can be classified as follows: drugs that are definitely able to induce or exacerbate psoriasis (e.g., lithium), and drugs that are possible to induce or exacerbate psoriasis (e.g., interferon). Clinical and histological studies on drug-induced or-exacerbated psoriasis are helpful to investigate into the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Further studies are still needed for drugs that are possible to induce or exacerbate psoriasis, which may be of great importance for the prevention of psoriasis in susceptible individuals. Key words: Psoriasis; Pharmaceutical preparations; Lithium compounds; Antimalarials; Biological agents; Provoke; Exacerbate