The Mechanism of Lithium and Beta-Blocking Agents in Inducing and Exacerbating Psoriasis
May 2006 | Volume 5 | Issue 5 | 426 | Copyright © May 2006
Meghan O’Brien MS, John Koo MD
Abstract
Documentation of psoriatic eruptions occurring with the initiation of various pharmacotherapy agents has been reported
in the literature. Two such agents include lithium and beta-blocking drugs. By understanding the mechanism by which these
drugs induce and exacerbate psoriasis, we may gain further understanding of the disease process of psoriasis as well as how
to treat this side effect. This paper reviews the literature that has examined the mechanism by which lithium and
beta-blockers may induce and exacerbate psoriasis. Mechanisms involving both immunologic and non-immunologic factors
have been examined in various studies. No consensus has been reached and further investigation is needed. However,
findings such as improvement with inositol supplementation in cases of lithium-induced and -exacerbated psoriasis and
disparate histologic presentation of beta-blocker-induced psoriasis provide suggestions that both the origin and treatment
of drug-induced psoriasis may be different than psoriasis that is unrelated to medications. 
