About the study

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder that affects approximately 2% of Americans

(click here to see examples of psoriasis). Because only about one-third of all patients with

psoriasis have a relative who is also affected with the disorder, psoriasis is not widely

recognized as a genetic disease. However, previous research on families and identical

twins has shown psoriasis has a strong genetic component, although environmental

factors (such as infections, stress, and injuries) are also important. The reason that

psoriasis is not widely recognized as a genetic disorder is because more than one gene is

probably required to develop disease. The purpose of this study is to identify these genes.

Our study was started in 1991 with a goal to identify the genetic bases of psoriasis. Since

then work from our laboratory as well as others have revealed that psoriasis is a

"complex disease" which may involve genetic, immunological and environmental factors.

Our focus is on the genetic aspects of psoriasis. Research during the last ten years has

revealed over forty potential gene locations that may contribute to psoriasis, some more

important than others. No definite psoriasis gene has yet been identified. Once the

general gene locations are identified, the next step is to test genes and gene regulating

regions of DNA that may be involved by an analysis method called genetic association

testing. Since this is a statistical analysis, obtaining reliable results requires testing a

large number of patients. We estimate that it will take approximately 5,000 participants

affected with psoriasis and an equal number of unaffected controls to get reliable results.

If you are interested in participating in the study, click here for details of study criteria.

Additional information is also detailed in the Consent to be Part of a Research Study

document.We believe that this research will provide information about the fundamental

cause of psoriasis, which will greatly help in the design of better treatments for this

disorder.

This study has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board for human

subject research at the University of Michigan (IRBMED No. HUM00037994) and adheres

to all applicable regulations.