Application of ultrasound biomicroscopy in the skin of psoriasis in different stages

Abstract

Objective To investigate the skin sonogram of ultrasound biomicroscopy of psoriasis patients in different stages and calculate the skin thickness in each stage. Methods Totally 150 normal psoriasis patients who were treated in Capital Medical University Affiliate Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from March, 2015 to February, 2016 were included, of which 50 were in active stage, 50 were in resting stage and 50 were in regression stage. Ultrasound biomicroscopy was applied to observe and measure the thickness of epidermis and dermis, and also the change of low-echo dark band between epidermis and dermis. Results The epidermis and dermis showed thickened in different degrees. The structures showed disordered and skin appendages displayed clearly by the skin sonogram of ultrasound biomicroscopy of psoriasis patients. The low-echo dark band between epidermis and dermis changed in different degrees. The differences of thicknesses of epidermis, dermis and dark band in different stages of psoriasis patients were statistically significant (F=169.239, 26.899, 37.902, all P 0.05). Compared the dermis thicknesses in regression stage with those in active and resting stage, the differences were statistically significant (t=6.428, 5.941, both P<0.01). Compared the low-echo dark band thicknesses in active stage with those in resting and regression stage, the differences were statistically significant (t=6.073, 7.540, both P<0.01). Compared the low-echo dark band thicknesses in resting stage with in regression stage, the differences was statistically significant (t=3.826, P<0.01). Conclusion Based on different sonogram of ultrasound biomicroscopy, we can observe the structure change of epidermis, dermis and dark band, and also the difference of skin thickness in different stages. Key words: Biomicroscopy examination; Ultrasonics; Psoriasis; Epidermis; Dermis; Ultrasonography