Ragna Hlin Thorleifsdottir, Sigrun Laufey Sigurdardottir, Bardur Sigurgeirsson, Jón Hjaltalin Olafsson, Martin Ingi Sigurdsson, Hannes Petersen, Johann Eli Gudjonsson, Andrew Johnston, Helgi Valdimarsson
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-2562

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with profound effects on patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Twenty-nine patients with plaque psoriasis and a history of streptococcal-associated psoriasis exacerbations were randomly assigned to tonsillectomy (n=15) or control (n=14) groups and followed for 24 months. Patients were evaluated with the Psoriasis Disability Index, Psoriasis Life Stress Inventory and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. HRQoL and psoriasis-related stress improved significantly in the tonsillectomy group compared with the control group (p=0.037 and p=0.002, respectively), with a mean 50% improvement in HRQoL and a mean 59% improvement in psoriasis-induced stress. Clinical improvement correlated significantly with improved HRQoL (r=0.297, p=0.008) and psoriasis-related stress (r=0.310, p=0.005). Of the tonsillectomized patients, 87% concluded that the procedure was worthwhile. Tonsillectomy may improve quality of life for selected patients with plaque psoriasis.