Dr Alex Vasquez in Portland, Oregon: Treatment for Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriasis & Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriasis and lipopolysaccharide from Gram-negative bacteria—Proposed explanation for the exacerbation of psoriasis in AIDS with a discussion of substance P and gram-negative bacteria (Autoimmunity 2004 Feb[1]): The author of this paper proposes that the well-known induction or exacerbation of psoriasis by HIV infection may be due to a variety of factors, including u increased colonization of skin by Staphylococcus aureus, v increased release of substance P by immunocytes rather than neurons, and w increased infections/colonization with Gram-negative bacteria which elaborate endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide, which is potently pro-inflammatory. Also proposed is the model of a vicious cycle wherein psoriatic lesions produce substance P, which then promotes HIV replication and exacerbation of HIV-related disease, which then leads to exacerbations of psoriasis, which leads to more substance P elaboration and HIV replication. Other researchers have noted that psoriatic lesions show increased nerve growth and increased elaboration from nerves of substance P, which is a pro-inflammatory neuropeptide.[2]

[1] Namazi MR. Paradoxical exacerbation of psoriasis in AIDS: proposed explanations including the potential roles of substance P and gram-negative bacteria. Autoimmunity. 2004 Feb;37(1):67-71

[2] "Indeed, we have noted marked proliferation of nerve fibers in transplanted psoriatic plaques compared with the few nerves in transplanted normal human skin. By double label immunofluorescence staining, we have further demonstrated that in these terminal cutaneous nerves there is a marked upregulation of neuropeptides, such as substance P and calcitonin gene-related protein." Raychaudhuri SP, Raychaudhuri SK. Role of NGF and neurogenic inflammation in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Prog Brain Res. 2004;146:433-7

Introduction to Dr Vasquez: Dr Alex Vasquez is an expert clinician, researcher, author and international lecturer who cares for patients in his office and educates other physicians world-wide on the best means to improve health outcomes. Dr Vasquez holds 3 doctoral degrees from fully-accredited American universities. In clinical practice, he treats a wide range of conditions and has particular interest in inflammatory/metabolic and autoimmune conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue, and psoriasis.