Distribution and Development of the TCM Syndromes in Psoriasis Vulgaris

Objective: To study the distribution and development rules of the TCM syndromes in psoriasis vulgaris. Methods: Based on the clinical epidemiologic mass survey, the study was carried out by means of a status survey, multi-center and large-sample research. The data base was set up by EPIINFO6.0. The SPSS was used to do the statistical analyses in 2651 cases of psoriasis vulgaris to study the correlations among the distribution and development of the TCM syndromes, the stages of the disease, nationality, psoriasis history, family history, smoking history, alcohol drinking history, and severity of the disease. Results: The TCM syndromes in psoriasis vulgaris mainly include the blood-heat syndrome (53.8%), blood-dryness syndrome (27.4%), and blood-stasis syndrome (18.1%). Other syndromes were rarely seen, covering 0.6%. The concurrent syndromes mainly involve dampness, heat, blood stasis and toxin. The distribution differences of the main syndromes at different stages of the disease had statistical significance (P<0.01). The syndrome distribution is not related with nationality and family history (P>0.05), but it was closely related with the psoriasis history, smoking history, alcohol drinking history, and severity of the disease (P<0.01). Conclusion: At the initial stage, psoriasis vulgaris usually manifests itself as the blood-heat syndrome, and later it may be improved or turn into the blood-dryness or blood-stasis syndrome. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and severity of the disease may play a role in the syndrome's transformation.Integrative & Complementary MedicineSCI(E)1ARTICLE3195-2002