Hemorrhagic Dot Score Accurately Assesses Psoriasis Severity Following Treatment

According to a study published in Dermatologic Therapy, the Hemorrhagic Dot Score (HDS) can be used to assess the clinical severity of psoriasis with more accuracy following therapeutic treatment.

Researchers conducted a longitudinal prospective study between October 2018 and March 2020. While in a dermatology center of a tertiary hospital, 100 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis cases underwent assessment at baseline and monthly for 6 months. Assessments were done clinically, via Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score and dermoscopically, while HDS and other dermoscopic features were added to each visit. Researchers noted that ANOVA and F-test were used for statistical analysis.

The results showed that improvement in the mean PASI scores and HDS were significant in each month on each follow up. Additionally, there was a higher effect size when comparing systemic and topical therapies (6.1 and 1.7).

“Hemorrhagic dot score can be used as an objective, definite assessment tool correlating with clinical severity of psoriasis with more accuracy which shows changes early following institution of therapy,” stated researchers.

Reference
Arora S, Paul D, Banerjee S, Kumar R, Ranjan E, Dabas R. Hemorrhagic dot score as a follow up marker in psoriasis on treatment: a prospective observational study. Dermatol Ther. Published online: February 14, 2022. doi:10.1111/dth.15379