Patient/caregiver was educated on findings to watch for in individuals with psoriasis as follows:
- Individuals with recurrent psoriasis episodes are at increased risk for presentation with elevated blood lipids, hypercholesterolemia, deterioration of blood sugar control, poor blood pressure control, worsening joint pains, compromised vision, signs and symptoms of bowel inflammation, and compromised function of internal organs, such as, liver and kidney.
- Individuals with recurrent psoriasis episodes must keep a close watch and report to the physician regarding the following:
- Chronic inflammation in individuals with uncontrolled recurrent psoriasis can result in damage to the function of kidney, leading to progressively diminishing kidney function and chronic kidney disease. Keep a watch on the urine volume by peeing in a urinal and maintaining a log of 24-hour volumes. Report to your physician regarding any gross changes with urine volume. Report any worsening pedal edema due to increased fluid retention from poor kidney function. Observe compliance with any recommendations made for renal diet and fluid intake limitations. Observe compliance with daily weight recording and report to your physician regarding any abrupt weight gain or consistent weight gain of more than 2 lbs over 24 hours.
- Uncontrolled psoriatic activity can contribute to development of symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, fatty liver and in extreme cases, even cirrhosis of liver and liver failure. Report to your physician regarding any grossly diminishing appetite, continuing poor nutrition intake, progressive weight loss, worsening fatigue, unrelieved abdominal pain & cramping, bloody diarrheal episodes, and jaundiced symptoms with yellowing of skin & eyes. Patients with liver failure can also present with poor protein synthesis, resulting in diffuse edema, especially with swelling & accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and lower extremities. These patients in liver failure could present with abrupt weight gain due to fluid retention and must be reported as well.
