Autoimmune disease

Disease, in which the immune system attacks it's own body.

Anti-IL-12/23 therapy

Fully human antibody therapy which is used to neutralise the inflammatory neurotransmitters interleukin 12 and interleukin 23.

Antibody

Protein substance that targets one specific substance in the body and renders it harmless.

Anti-IL-17 Therapie

Purely human antibody therapy with which the inflammatory messenger substance interleukin-17 are neutralized.

Biologic agent

Drug produced using biotechnology methods.

Balneo-phototherapie

Combined application of bathing and light therapy.

Glucocorticosteroids

Anti-inflammatory hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex or that can be manufactured as synthetic substances, e.g. cortisone.

Neurotransmitter

Substance produced in the body, which serves to chemically transmit signals between the body's cells.

IL-17

Abbreviation for the messenger substance interleukin-17, which is produced by phagocytes and T cells in pus and becomes highly inflammatory, it is an important messenger substance in psoriasis.

IL-12/23

Abbreviation for the neurotransmitters interleukin 12 and interleukin 23, which are attributed a central role in the development of psoriasis.

Immunosuppressant

Medication, which suppresses or reduces the body's own defense by the immune system.

Immune system

Body's own defense system.

Keratinocytes

Horn cells of the outermost layer of the skin.

PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index)

Measurement tool that determines the severity of the psoriasis and also scores the efficacy of a medication in clinical studies. For the assessment of severity, the strength of the redness, scaling, thickening of the skin and the extent of the psoriasis across the surface of the body on arms, legs, head and torso are included.

Physical therapy

Treatment type based on physical methods.

Psoralen

Medicinal substance that increases the skin's photosensitivity.

Subcutaneous injection

Pharmaceutical form, in which the medication is injected under the skin.

PUVA

Combined treatment with psoralen and UV-A irradiation.

T-cell modulator

Biologic agent, which binds to T-cells, i.e. cells from the body's own immune system, and thus reduces the formation of pro-inflammatory neurotransmitters.

Systemic treatment

Internal treatment, where the medication is delivered into the body by tablets, injections or infusions.

TNF-α (Alpha)

Tumour necrosis factor α, an anti-inflammatory neurotransmitter of the immune system

TNF-α (alpha) blocker

Biologic, which binds to the neurotransmitter TNF-α, in order to inhibit its inflammatory effect.

Topical therapy

External application in which the medication is applied directly onto the affected area.

Trigger

The emergence of a disease triggering factor.