الفهرس 
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Abstract
Psoriasis is a common chronic skin disorder characterized by erythematous papules and plaques with silvery white scales. Psoriasis is a worldwide occurring disease. In the Caucasian population, the prevalence is about 1-2%. In other ethnic groups such as the Japanese, the prevalence of psoriasis is much lower.
HCV represents a major public health problem. According to the World Health Organization there are 170 million people infected with the hepatitis C virus, corresponding to 3% of the world’s total population. There are considerable regional differences. In some countries, e.g., Egypt, the prevalence is as high as 20%.
Extra hepatic manifestations have been associated with hepatitis C involving the muscles, bones, neural and gastrointestinal tissue, as well as the skin.
There is a strong connection between the functioning of the liver and the development of psoriasis. Some systemic agents for management of psoriasis confer a risk of liver toxicity On the other hand, treatment of any liver condition should always be undertaken carefully in the setting of chronic inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis because of the risk of flares during IFN treatment.
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HCV in patients with Psoriasis in Sohag University Hospital.
The study included 50 patients with Psoriasis, (25 males and 25 females). Their age ranged from 13 to 75 years (mean 37.8). The study also included 50 persons as a control group selected from blood donors and normal persons.
All patients included in this study were investigated for the presence of anti HCV antibodies.
HCV antibodies were found in 12 of 50 cases of Psoriasis (24%) with statistically significant difference compared to control group (3 of 50 persons) (6%) which support possible relationship between Psoriasis and HCV.
There were 16 patients aged >40-60 years. HCV was found to affect 8 of them (66.67% of all HCV +ve cases).There were 22 patients aged >20-40 years. HCV was found to affect 2 of them (16.67 % of all HCV +ve cases). There were 3 patients aged >60 years. HCV was found to affect 2 of them (16.67 % of all HCV +ve cases).There were 9 patients <=20 years all of them were anti HCV negative. Generally There was statistically significant increase of HCV among patients between >40-60 years. (Table III) (Figure IV)
HCV was +ve in 12 patients of psoriasis and was -ve in 38 patients, Males were more affected (75 %) than females (25 %). (Table IV) (Figure V)
There was no statistically significant difference between HCV-ve cases (84.21%) and HCV +ve cases (83.33%) in rural areas and also between HCV-ve cases (15.79%) and HCV +ve cases (16.67%) in urban areas. (Table V) (Figure VI)
The relation between anti HCV antibodies and duration of psoriasis was statistically insignificant among all age groups. (Table VI) (Figure VII)
The relation between anti HCV antibodies and PASI score was statistically insignificant. (Table VII) (Figure VIII)
In conclusion, that HCV antibodies test is necessarily required for Psoriatic patients with no signs of liver disease because of:
1- Management of psoriasis increase the risk of liver toxicity
2- Treatment of any liver condition should always be undertaken carefully in the setting of psoriasis because of the risk of flares during IFN treatment.
3- Psoriasis may be the only cause for the discovery of HCV infection and therefore the early treatment lead to dramatic improvement of liver damage.