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Psoriasis Plasma and Serum Samples

by | Apr 27, 2022 | News Releases | 0 comments

Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade, biopsy tissue samples, FFPE tissue blocks with matched cryogenically preserved sera (serum), plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) biofluid samples from patients diagnosed with psoriasis.

The sera (serum), plasma and PBMC biofluid specimens are processed from psoriasis patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.

The psoriasis sera (serum), plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) biofluids are processed from patients peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.


Psoriasis Overview

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the rapid buildup of the skin cells. This buildup of cells causes scaling on your skin’s surface.

Inflammation and redness around the scales are fairly common. Typical psoriatic scales are whitish-silver and develop in thick, red patches. However, on darker skin tones, they can also appear more as purplish, dark brown with gray scales. Sometimes, these patches will crack and bleed.

Psoriasis is the result of a sped-up skin production process. Typically, skin cells grow deep in your skin and slowly rise to the surface. Eventually, they fall off. The typical life cycle of a skin cell is about a month.

In psoriasis patients, this production process may occur in just a few days. Because of this, skin cells don’t have time to fall off. This rapid overproduction leads to the buildup of skin cells.

Psoriasis is a noncontagious, chronic skin disease that produces plaques of thickened, scaly skin. The dry flakes of silvery-white skin scales result from the excessively rapid proliferation of skin cells. Psoriasis is fundamentally a defective Inflammatory response.

The proliferation of skin cells is triggered by Inflammatory chemicals produced by specialized white blood cells called T-cells. Psoriasis commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp.

Spectrum of the disease ranges from mild with limited involvement of small areas of skin to severe psoriasis with large, thick plaques to red inflamed skin affecting the entire body surface.

Psoriasis is considered an incurable, long-term (chronic) Inflammatory skin condition. It has a variable course, periodically improving and worsening. It is not unusual for psoriasis to spontaneously clear for years and stay in remission.

Many psoriasis patients note a worsening of their symptoms in the colder winter months. Psoriasis affects all races and both sexes. Although psoriasis can be seen in people of any age, from babies to seniors, most commonly patients are first diagnosed in their early adult years.

The self-esteem and quality of life of patients with psoriasis are often diminished because of the appearance of their skin.

Research studies have shown that patients with psoriasis are more likely to have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood lipids and variety of other inflammatory diseases. This may reflect an inability to control inflammation.


Types of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that affects around 3.2% of the United States population. There are a number of different types of psoriasis, which can vary in their severity, location on the body, and physical appearance.

In psoriasis, the skin cells form too quickly, because these grow faster than the body can shed existing skin cells, thick, scaly patches form. On lighter skin tones, psoriasis usually appears as pink or red patches with silvery-white scales. On darker skin, psoriasis is more likely to appear as purple patches with gray scales or as a dark brown color.

There are several types of psoriasis. Most types of psoriasis tend to be mild to moderate. However, some types of psoriasis can be severe.

Following are the different types of psoriasis:

  • Erythrodermic psoriasis, the entire skin surface is involved with the disease.
  • Guttate psoriasis (small, drop-like spots)
  • Inverse psoriasis (in the folds like of the underarms, navel, groin, and buttocks)
  • Nail psoriasis produces yellow pitted nails that can be confused with nail fungus.
  • Pustular psoriasis (small pus-filled yellowish blisters).
  • Psoriasis of the scalp 
  • Plaque psoriasis also known as psoriasis vulgaris, this is the most common type.
  • Scalp psoriasis can be severe enough to produce localized hair loss, plenty of dandruff, and severe itching.
  • When the palms and the soles are involved, this is known as palmoplantar psoriasis.

Patients with psoriasis may initially only develop one type of psoriasis, but can develop another type at a later point in time.


Signs and Symptoms of Psoriasis

Psoriasis symptoms differ from person to person and depend on the type of psoriasis a patient have. Areas of psoriasis can be as small as a few flakes on the scalp or elbow, or cover the majority of the body.

While a patient’s symptoms will vary with the type of psoriasis they have, most patients with psoriasis will experience some combination of the following symptoms.

The most common symptoms of plaque psoriasis include:

  • Burning, sore, or painful areas on the skin
  • Dry skin that may crack and bleed 
  • Itching and burning sensations around patches 
  • Painful swollen joints
  • Raised, inflamed patches of skin that appear red on light skin and brown or purple on dark skin
  • Soreness around patches 
  • Swollen or stiff joints
  • Small scaly spots
  • Thick, pitted nails
  • Whitish-silver scales or plaques on the red patches or gray scales on purple and brown patches


Psoriasis is often a lifelong condition, and symptoms tend to be cyclical. This means that they may increase in intensity at certain periods and lessen at others. People refer to these periods of heightened symptoms as flares. These flare ups can vary in severity and duration.


Erythrodermic Psoriasis

While most forms of psoriasis tend to be mild or moderate, erythrodermic psoriasis is severe and can be a life-threatening medical emergency.

This type of inflammatory psoriasis covers 80 to 90% of the body. It causes an extremely painful, peeling rash that looks like a burn.

Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare condition and affects 1 to 2.5% of patients with psoriasis.

Symptoms

Unlike symptoms of the types of mild psoriasis, symptoms of erythrodermic psoriasis tend to be serious. They may include:

  • Fever or lower body temperature
  •  Faster heart rate
  • Skin that peels off in sheets
  • Severe itching, pain, or burning
  • Swelling in feet or ankles
  • Widespread area of inflamed, discolored skin

Patients who have erythrodermic psoriasis are prone to infection. They may also experience other serious problems, including heart failure and pneumonia.


Guttate Psoriasis

Guttate psoriasis is characterized by red, purple, or dark dots and spots spread throughout the skin. The dots and spots are not as thick as plaques in plaque psoriasis.

This type of psoriasis often starts in childhood or young adulthood and appears after an infection.

Symptoms

Guttate psoriasis typically causes spots to appear on the legs, arm, and torso. However, these may also appear on the face, scalp, and ears.

In severe cases of guttate psoriasis, there may be hundreds of these spots, and they may cover the majority of an affected area.

Treatments

Doctors will typically recommend topical creams and ointments as the first step for treating guttate psoriasis. These treatments may help reduce swelling and alleviate itching.

As the condition can appear following infections such as strep throat, a doctor may recommend antibiotics to treat the infection alongside addressing the psoriasis symptoms. In some cases, they may also suggest a patient undergo light therapy.

Inverse Psoriasis

Inverse psoriasis appears as patches of discoloration that are most often found in the folds of the skin, such as in the armpits and groin. Patients with inverse psoriasis often have other forms of psoriasis elsewhere on their bodies.

Symptoms

On white skin, inverse psoriasis presents as bright red or pink marks. On black or brown skin it may appear as red, purple, or darker than the surrounding area.

Areas of the body that are most likely to be affected by inverse psoriasis include:

  • Armpits
  • Behind the knee
  • Groin
  • Under the breasts


Treatment

The areas of the body that are most often affected by inverse psoriasis tend to have thinner skin than other areas. This can make treating this type of psoriasis more difficult.

A doctor will typically recommend topical steroid ointments to reduce Inflammation. As skin folds are common sites of yeast infection, they may also suggest a person take anti-yeast and anti-fungal treatments as well.


Nail Psoriasis

Psoriasis may involve solely the nails in a limited number of patients. Usually, the nail signs accompany the skin and arthritis symptoms and signs. Nail psoriasis is typically very difficult to treat.

Treatment

Treatment options are somewhat limited and include potent topical steroids applied at the nail-base cuticle, injection of steroids at the nail-base cuticle, and oral or systemic medications as described below for the treatment of psoriasis.


Pustular Psoriasis

Pustular psoriasis is a severe, rare type of psoriasis. It causes widespread inflammation of the skin and white or yellow blisters that contain pus.


Symptoms

Pustular psoriasis blisters can be limited to one area of the body or appear more generally. Once the blisters have gone away, the skin may become scaly.

A person with pustular psoriasis may also experience:

A specific kind of pustular psoriasis called palmoplantar pustulosis causes blisters to form on the palms and soles of the feet. These blisters form in a studded pattern. Over time, the blisters turn brown and become crusty.

Treatment

Due to the rarity of the condition, there is a lack of evidence-based on treatment guidelines

As a result, medical professionals may recommend a combination of topical ointments, oral medications, and therapies.

They may also cycle between medications and therapies to find the most effective option and reduce the risk of side effects.

A patient with mild pustular psoriasis may be able to treat the condition with prescription topical ointments. However, those with more extensive symptoms may require hospital treatment.


Causes of Psoriasis

Exact causes of psoriasis is unknown. However, according to the research, the following two main key factors are identified:


Genetics

Some patients inherit genes that make them more likely to develop psoriasis. If you have an immediate family member with the skin condition, you are at an increased risk of developing psoriasis, according to research published recently.

Immune system

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune conditions are the result of your body attacking itself. In the case of psoriasis, white blood cells known as T cells mistakenly attack your skin cells.

Generally, in the body, white blood cells are deployed to attack and destroy invading bacteria and mount a defense against infections. This mistaken autoimmune attack causes the skin cell production process to go into overdrive. The sped-up skin cell production causes new skin cells to develop too quickly. They are pushed to the skin’s surface, where they pile up.

This results in the plaques that are most commonly associated with psoriasis. The attacks on the skin cells also cause red, inflamed areas of skin to develop.

Some medical researchers have theories about why people develop psoriasis. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, an estimated 10 percent of people inherit genes that increase their likelihood of getting psoriasis. Of those 10 percent, however, only about 2 to 3 percent actually develop the disorder.

Scientists have identified about 25 gene variants that can increase your risk for psoriasis. These genetic variants are believed to cause changes in the way the body’s T cells behave. T cells are immune system cells that normally fight off harmful invaders, such as viruses and bacteria.

In people with psoriasis, T cells also attack healthy skin cells by mistake. This immune system response results in a range of reactions, including:

  • An increase in skin cells, T cells, and additional immune system cells
  • The enlargement of blood vessels in the skin
  • An increase in white blood cells that stimulate the skin to produce new cells more quickly than usual
  • The development of the thick, scaly patches associated with psoriasis
  • An accumulation of new skin cells on the surface of the skin

Typically, these effects occur in response to a trigger.


Triggers of Psoriasis

The symptoms of psoriasis often develop or become worse due to certain triggers. These can be environmentally or physically related. The triggers vary from patient to patient, but common psoriasis triggers include the following:

  • A skin injury, such as a cut, bug bite, or sunburn
  • Cold temperatures
  • Certain medications, including lithium, beta-blockers, and antimalarial drugs
  • Drinking too much alcohol 
  • Excessive stress and tension
  • Having another autoimmune disease, such as HIV or rheumatoid arthritis
  • Smoking
  • Infections that cause a weakened immune system, such as strep throat

Patients can identify your specific triggers by tracking when you experience psoriasis symptoms. For example, a patient may notice a flare-up after a stressful week at work. Their symptoms become worse after having a alcoholic drinks. Staying vigilant about when symptoms occur can help you determine potential psoriasis triggers.

Your doctor can also evaluate your medications and overall health to help you pinpoint possible triggers. Make sure to tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you may be taking. They may switch you to another medication or make a change in your dosage if they suspect your medication is causing your outbreaks. However, the patient should not stop taking any medications unless your doctor instructs you to do so.

 

Prevention of Psoriasis Triggers

While it is not possible to change your genes, you can prevent psoriasis flare-ups by controlling your symptoms through regular treatments. These include applying topical medications, taking oral medications, or receiving injections to reduce uncomfortable psoriasis symptoms.

Phototherapy or light treatment can also reduce the incidence of psoriasis. This type of treatment involves using natural or artificial ultraviolet light to slow skin growth and inflammation.

Aside from medical treatments, making certain lifestyle adjustments can also reduce your risk for a psoriasis flare-up. These include the following:

Reducing Stress

While stress can have a negative impact on anyone, it’s particularly problematic for patients with psoriasis. The body tends to have an inflammatory reaction to stress. This response can lead to the onset of psoriasis symptoms. You can try reducing the amount of stress in your life by doing yoga, meditating, or meeting with a therapist on a regular basis.


Taking Care of Your Skin

Injuries to the skin, such as sunburns and scrapes, can trigger psoriasis in some people. These types of injuries can usually be prevented by practicing good skin care.

When doing activities that may cause skin injury, you should always take extra precautions. Use sunscreen and wear a hat when spending time outside. You should also use caution when engaging in outdoor activities and contact sports, such as basketball or football.


Practicing Good Hygiene

Infections are known to trigger psoriasis because they put stress on the immune system, causing an inflammatory reaction. Strep throat in particular is associated with the onset of psoriasis symptoms, especially in children. However, psoriasis flare-ups may occur after an earache, tonsillitis, or a respiratory or skin Infection.

These types of infections can usually be prevented with good hygiene practices.

Make sure to wash your hands often throughout the day. Also avoid sharing cups and utensils with other people. It’s also important to clean a cut or wound properly and to keep it covered so it doesn’t get infected.

Eating a Healthy Diet

Being obese or overweight appears to make psoriasis symptoms worse. So it’s important to manage your weight by exercising regularly and eating a healthful diet. If you have trouble eating healthy, you may want to see a nutritionist for help. They can help you figure out how much food and which foods you should eat every day to lose weight.


Diagnosis of Psoriasis

Following tests and examinations are used by the doctors to diagnose psoriasis.

Physical Examination

Most doctors can make a diagnosis with a simple physical exam. Symptoms of psoriasis are typically evident and easy to distinguish from other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.

During this exam, be sure to show your doctor all areas of concern. In addition, let your doctor know if any family members have the condition.

Biopsy

If your symptoms are unclear, or if your doctor wants to confirm their suspected diagnosis, they may take a small sample of your skin. This is known as a biopsy.

Biopsies can be done in your doctor’s office on the day of your appointment. Your doctor will likely inject a local numbing medication to make the biopsy less painful.

They will then send the skin biopsy to a lab for analysis, where it’ll be examined under a microscope. The examination can diagnose the type of psoriasis you have. It can also rule out other possible disorders or infections.

When the results return, your doctor may request an appointment to discuss the findings and treatment options with you.


Treatment of Psoriasis

Since psoriasis has no cure, the treatments usually aim to manage the following underlying conditions:

  • Reduce inflammation and scales
  • Slow the growth of skin cells
  • Remove plaques

Psoriasis treatments fall into the following three categories:

Topical Treatments

Creams and ointments applied directly to the skin can be helpful for reducing mild to moderate psoriasis.

Topical psoriasis treatments include:

  • Anthralin 
  • Moisturizer 
  • Salicylic acid
  • Topical corticosteroids
  • Vitamin D analogues 
  • Topical retinoids

Systemic Medications

Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, and those who have not responded well to other treatment types, may need to use oral or injected medications.

Many of these medications can have severe side effects, and for that reason, doctors usually prescribe them for short periods of time.

These medications include:

  • Biologics
  • Cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
  • Methotrexate
  • Oral retinoids

Light Therapy

This psoriasis treatment uses ultraviolet (UV) or natural light. Sunlight kills the overactive white blood cells that are attacking healthy skin cells and causing the rapid cell growth. Both UVA and UVB light may be helpful in reducing symptoms of mild to moderate psoriasis.

Most patients with moderate to severe psoriasis will benefit from a combination of treatments. This type of therapy uses more than one of the treatment types to reduce symptoms. Some patients may use the same treatment their entire lives. Others may need to change treatments occasionally if their skin stops responding to the treatment they’re receiving.

Risk Factors of Psoriasis

Anyone can develop psoriasis. About a third of instances begin in the pediatric years.

Following factors can increase the risk of developing psoriasis:

  • Family history: The condition runs in families. Having one parent with psoriasis increases your risk of getting the disease, and having two parents with psoriasis increases your risk even more.
  • Stress: Because stress can impact your immune system, high stress levels may increase your risk of psoriasis.
  • Smoking: Smoking tobacco not only increases your risk of psoriasis but also may increase the severity of the disease. Smoking may also play a role in the initial development of the disease.

Complications of Psoriasis

If you have psoriasis, you’re at greater risk of developing other conditions, including the following:

  • Psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints
  • Eye conditions, such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis and uveitis
  • Obesity
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • High blood pressure (Hypertension)
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Other autoimmune diseases, such as celiac disease, sclerosis and the inflammatory bowel disease called Chron’s disease
  • Mental health conditions, such as low self-esteem and depression

 

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Samples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.

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Our biobank procures and stores fully consented, deidentified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.

All our human tissue collections, human specimens and human bio-fluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

This critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Patient’s data is extremely valuable for researchers and is used to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

Including fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.

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Bay Biosciences also provides human samples from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, contact us Now.

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