Cutaneous vascular patterns in psoriasis

Microvascular abnormalities are a characteristic feature of psoriasis and play a crucial role in its pathogenesis. Investigational studies have shown that activated keratinocytes in lesional skin undergo an accelerated epidermal cell turnover and are a major source of pro-angiogenic cytokines, like as VEGF, ESAF, PDECGE/TP, TNF-alpha, TGF-alpha and PDGF, suggesting that the epidermis is capable of inducing vascular proliferation. On the other hand, microvascular alterations are essential for the development and persistence of the psoriatic lesions as they provide cellular and tissue nutrition to hyperplastic keratinocytes and promote inflammatory cell migration. Also, dilated and slightly tortuous blood vessels within dermal papillae represent one of the earliest detectable histological changes for all stages of lesional development. Videodermatoscopy is a new non invasive imaging technique able to identify modifications of microvascular architecture in vivo and such evaluation will be useful for the dermatologist both for diagnostic and prognostic evaluation, as well as for post-therapeutic follow-up. In this review, the role of microvascular abnormalities in the pathogenesis of psoriasis as well as the mechanisms underlying vascular changes and their primary therapeutic implications will be reviewed and discussed.