Evaluation of monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio, lymphocytes, monocytes, and platelets in psoriasis,

Abstract Background: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease that is associated with cardiovascular comorbidities. Objectives: The objective of this retrospective study is to assess the C-reactive protein, monocyte-to-high-density-lipoprotein ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio as inflammatory markers in patients with psoriasis and to search for a relationship between these parameters and psoriasis severity, as defined by the psoriasis area and severity index. Methods: There were 94 patients with psoriasis and 118 healthy controls enrolled in the study. The C-reactive protein, monocyte-to-high-density-lipoprotein ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio values of two groups were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in terms of C-reactive protein, monocyte-to-high-density-lipoprotein ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio between the patient and control groups (p = 0.001, p = 0.003, p = 0.038, and p = 0.007, respectively). Positive correlations were found between the psoriasis area and severity index and the values of C-reactive protein, monocyte-to-high-density-lipoprotein ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (r: 0.381; p < 0.01, r: 0.203; p < 0.05, r: 0.268; p < 0.01, r: 0.374; p < 0.01, r: 0.294; p < 0.01, respectively). Study limitations: The small sample size and the retrospective design of the study are limitations. Conclusion: Elevated C-reactive protein, monocyte-to-high-density-lipoprotein ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio were significantly associated with psoriasis. A positive correlation between C-reactive protein and monocyte-to-high-density-lipoprotein ratio leads to the suggestion that monocyte-to-high-density-lipoprotein ratio might be a reliable parameter in psoriasis during the follow-up. The relationship between the diasease and inflammatory parameters might provide early detection of cardiovascular morbidities in psoriasis patients.

Serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in the evaluation of bacterial infection in generalized pustular psoriasis

Abstract Background There is an obvious need for more prompt and specific biomarkers of bacterial infections in generalized pustular psoriasis patients. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic properties and define appropriate cut-off values of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in predicting bacterial infection in generalized pustular psoriasis patients. Methods Sixty-four generalized pustular psoriasis patients hospitalized from June 2014 to May 2017 were included in this retrospective study. The values of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, details of infection, and other clinical parameters were analyzed. Results Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis generated similar areas (p = 0.051) under the curve for procalcitonin 0.896 (95% CI 0.782-1.000) and C-reactive protein 0.748 (95% CI 0.613-0.883). A cut-off value of 1.50 ng/mL for procalcitonin and 46.75 mg/dL for C-reactive protein gave the best combination of sensitivity (75.0% for procalcitonin, 91.7% for C-reactive protein) and specificity (100% for procalcitonin, 53.8% for C-reactive protein). Procalcitonin was significantly positively correlated with C-reactive protein levels both in the infected (r = 0.843, p = 0.040) and non-infected group (r = 0.799, p = 0.000). Study limitations The sample size and the retrospective design are limitations. Conclusions The serum levels of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein performed equally well to differentiate bacterial infection from non-infection in generalized pustular psoriasis patients. The reference value of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein applied to predicting bacterial infection in most clinical cases may not be suitable for generalized pustular psoriasis patients. C-reactive protein had better diagnostic sensitivity than procalcitonin; however, the specificity of procalcitonin was superior to that of C-reactive protein.

Psoriasis in obesity: comparison of serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in obese subjects - cases and controls

Abstract BACKGROUND: Psoriasis and obesity are somewhat related to a low-grade systemic inflammatory response. OBJECTIVES: To determine leptin and adiponectin levels in psoriasis patients compared to control patients matched for weight. METHODS: A case-control study was performed, evaluating 113 psoriasis patients and 41 controls with other dermatologic diseases. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was 33% in cases and 21.9% in controls. All evaluated comorbidities were more prevalent among cases. When stratified by weight, the comorbidities were more frequent in overweight patients. We found no correlation between being overweight (p=0.25), leptin (p=0.18) or adiponectin (p=0.762) levels and psoriasis severity. When overweight cases and controls were compared, we found differences in the adiponectin values (p= 0.04). The overweight cases had lower adiponectin levels than the overweight controls. We found no differences in the leptin dosage between cases and controls. The overweight cases had higher leptin values than the normal weight cases (p<0.001). STUDY LIMITATIONS: Several patients used systemic anti-inflammatory medication. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of obesity among psoriasis cases (33%) was higher than in the general population (17.4%). We did not find any correlation between severity of psoriasis and inflammatory cytokines and the condition of being overweight. The overweight cases had lower values of adiponectin than the overweight controls. It seems, therefore, that there is a relationship between adiponectin and psoriasis, but this relationship depends on the presence of obesity.

Serum uric acid levels and hyperuricemia in patients with psoriasis: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

Abstract: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was performed, including 117 psoriatic patients and 117 controls matched for age, gender, and body mass index. Psoriatic patients had higher levels of serum uric acid (6.25 ± 1.62 vs 5.71 ± 1.35 mg/dl; P=0.019) and significantly greater prevalence of hyperuricemia (31.6% vs 16.2%; P=0.009) than individuals without psoriasis. Psoriatic patients had significantly higher serum uric acid than controls in subjects without metabolic syndrome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that psoriasis can be a strong predictor of hyperuricemia (odds ratio 2.61; 95% confidence interval 1.34-5.00; P=0.004).

Study of serum levels and skin expression of S100B protein in psoriasis

Abstract Background: S100B protein was reported to be elevated in psoriatic patients' serum, with no previous evaluation of its skin expression, in contrast to the extensively studied S100 protein. Objective: To evaluate the serum level and skin expression of S100B in psoriasis to assess its possible involvement in its pathogenesis. Methods: Serum level of S100B protein was estimated in 40 psoriatic patients of different clinical varieties and 10 healthy controls. S100B protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically in lesional and non-lesional skin of patients and in normal skin of controls. Relation to disease severity was also evaluated. Results: Serum level of S100B protein was significantly higher in psoriatic patients (0.15±0.03 µg/l) than in controls (0.03±0.007 µg/l) (P-value <0.001) with no significant correlation with PASI score. On comparing grades of S100B protein skin expression in lesional and non-lesional skin biopsies, a statistically significant difference was found (P=0.046) with higher percentage of strong S100B skin expression (60%) in non-lesional than in lesional (42%) skin. All the control biopsies showed negative expression. Study limitations: Relatively small sample size with a limited range of low PASI scores. Conclusion: This study points to a potential link between psoriasis and S100B protein with higher serum and skin expression in patients than in controls.

C-reactive protein serum level in patients with psoriasis before and after treatment with narrow-band ultraviolet B

Abstract: Background: C-reactive protein is an inflammatory biomarker and its level increases in the serum of psoriatic patients. Its level is also associated with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the decrement of serum C-reactive protein level with narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy. Methods: C-reactive protein serum levels in psoriasis patients were measured before and after treatment with NB-UVB and the data were analyzed in relation to the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score improvement. Results: Baseline C-reactive protein levels among psoriatic patients were higher than normal. These levels decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.001). At the beginning of the study, patients with higher levels of C-reactive protein also had more extensive and severe skin involvement. The highest decrease in C-reactive protein was observed in patients who responded better to the treatment and achieved a higher Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75%. There was an association between baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores and C-reactive protein levels. Conclusion: Patients with moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis had active systemic inflammation, which was demonstrated by increased levels of C-reactive protein. Furthermore, skin disease severity was correlated with C-reactive protein levels. Phototherapy healed the psoriatic skin lesions and reduced inflammation, while decreasing C-reactive protein levels.

CD19+ B cell subsets in the peripheral blood and skin lesions of psoriasis patients and their correlations with disease severity

T lymphocytes are important in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and increasing evidence indicates that B cells also play an important role. The mechanisms of action, however, remain unclear. We evaluated the ratios of CD19+ B cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 157 patients with psoriasis (65 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, 32 patients with erythrodermic psoriasis, 30 patients with arthropathic psoriasis, and 30 patients with pustular psoriasis) and 35 healthy controls (HCs). Ratios of CD19+ B cells in skin lesions were compared with non-lesions in 7 erythrodermic psoriasis patients. The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) was used to measure disease severity. CD19+ B cell ratios in PBMCs from psoriasis vulgaris (at both the active and stationary stage) and arthropathic psoriasis patients were higher compared with HCs (P<0.01), but ratios were lower in erythrodermic and pustular psoriasis patients (P<0.01). CD19+ B cell ratios in erythrodermic psoriasis skin lesions were higher than in non-lesion areas (P<0.001). Different subsets of CD19+CD40+, CD19+CD44+, CD19+CD80+, CD19+CD86+, CD19+CD11b+, and CD19+HLA-DR+ B cells in PBMCs were observed in different psoriasis clinical subtypes. PASI scores were positively correlated with CD19+ B cell ratios in psoriasis vulgaris and arthropathic psoriasis cases (r=0.871 and r=0.692, respectively, P<0.01), but were negatively correlated in pustular psoriasis (r=-0.569, P<0.01). The results indicated that similar to T cells, B cells activation may also play important roles in different pathological stages of psoriasis.

Decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma levels in psoriasis patients

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with neuroplasticity and synaptic strength, and is decreased in conditions associated with chronic stress. Nevertheless, BDNF has not yet been investigated in psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory systemic disease that is exacerbated by stress. Therefore, our aim was to determine BDNF plasma levels in psoriasis patients and healthy controls. Adult patients (n=94) presenting with psoriasis for at least 1 year were enrolled, and age- and gender-matched with healthy controls (n=307) from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Participants had neither a previous history of coronary artery disease nor current episode of major depression. BDNF plasma levels were determined using the Promega ELISA kit. A general linear model was used to compare BDNF levels in psoriasis patients and controls, with age, gender, systolic blood pressure, serum fasting glucose, blood lipid levels, triglycerides, smoking status, and body mass index examined. After adjusting for clinical and demographic variables, significantly decreased BNDF plasma levels were observed in psoriasis patients (P=0.01) (estimated marginal means of 3922 pg/mL; 95%CI=2660-5135) compared with controls (5788 pg/mL; 95%CI=5185-6442). Similar BDNF levels were found in both mild and severe cases of psoriasis. Our finding, that BDNF is decreased in psoriasis, supports the concept of a brain-skin connection in psoriasis. Further studies should determine if BDNF is increased after specific psoriasis treatments, and associated with different disease stages.

Mean Platelet Volume Is Elevated in Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was done to investigate the mean platelet volume (MPV) level in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and its relationship with disease severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We undertook a cross-sectional study on 176 patients and 101 healthy controls to examine the association between MPV and psoriasis. Various clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Platelet distribution width and MPV were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis than controls. In addition, there was positive correlation between Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and MPV. When psoriasis patients were grouped into mild psoriasis (PASI or =10), the MPV of the latter group was significantly elevated. Nevertheless, patients with higher MPV level (MPV> or =10.4 fL) did not show higher PASI than lower MPV level (MPV<10.4 fL). MPV levels significantly decreased after improvements of psoriasis with various treatments. The variations of MPV and PASI also showed significant correlation. CONCLUSION: We have shown that MPV is increased in psoriasis patients and correlates with disease severity. Therefore, MPV levels may be considered as a marker of disease severity of psoriasis.

Serum Leptin and Adiponectin Levels in Korean Patients with Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a disorder caused by genetic and immunological factors. Leptin, a peptide hormone secreted predominantly from adipose tissue, regulates energy intake and expenditure, as well as the T-helper response. There have been conflicting reports regarding serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in patients with psoriasis. In the present study, we measured serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in Korean patients with psoriasis. Twenty-four patients with psoriasis and fifteen control subjects were included in the study. Serum leptin and adiponectin levels were determined by an immunometric sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mean serum leptin concentration in patients with psoriasis was higher than in controls, and the difference was statistically significant. In contrast, serum adiponectin levels in patients with psoriasis were significantly decreased compared with healthy controls. Leptin levels in vitamin D-deficient patients were statistically significantly higher than in vitamin D-sufficient patients. Serum adiponectin concentrations showed a negative correlation with body mass index (BMI) and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) in patients with psoriasis. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that leptin and adiponectin may play a role in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis and may be useful biomarkers indicating severity of psoriasis in Korean patients.

Evaluation of D-dimer serum levels among patients with chronic urticaria, psoriasis and urticarial vasculitis / Avaliação dos níveis séricos de D-dímeros entre doentes com urticária crônica, psoríase e urticária vasculite

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes, under appropriated stimulus, may express tissue factor and therefore, activate the extrinsic pathway of coagulation. We performed a transversal and case-control study of patients with chronic urticaria and patients with psoriasis, in our outpatient clinic to evaluate the production of D-dimer. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate D-dimer serum levels in patients with chronic urticaria and its possible correlation with disease activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted from October 2010 until March 2011. We selected 37 consecutive patients from our Allergy Unit and Psoriasis Unit, and divided them into three groups for statistical analysis: (i) 12 patients with active chronic urticaria (CU); (ii) 10 patients with chronic urticaria under remission and (iii) 15 patients with psoriasis (a disease with skin inflammatory infiltrate constituted by neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes). Another five patients with urticarial vasculitis were allocated in our study, but not included in statistical analysis. The serum levels of D-dimer were measured by Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA), and the result units were given in ng/ml FEU. RESULTS: Patients with active chronic urticaria had the highest serum levels of D-dimer (p<0.01), when compared to patients with CU under remission and the control group (patients with psoriasis). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with active chronic urticaria have higher serum levels of D-dimer, when compared to patients with chronic urticaria under remission and patients with psoriasis. We found elevated serum levels of D-dimer among patients with urticarial vasculitis. .

FUNDAMENTOS: Tem sido demonstrado que os neutrófilos, eosinófilos e monócitos, sob estímulo apropriado, podem expressar fator tecidual e, portanto, ativar a via extrínseca da coagulação. Realizamos um estudo transversal e caso-controle de pacientes com urticária crônica e pacientes com psoríase em nosso ambulatório para avaliar a produção de dímero-D. OBJETIVO: Avaliar níveis de dímero-D em pacientes com urticária crônica e sua possível correlação com a atividade da doença. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: O estudo foi conduzido de outubro de 2010 até março de 2011. Nós selecionamos 37 pacientes consecutivos da Unidade de Alergia e Unidade de Psoríase, divididos em três grupos para análise estatística: (i) 12 pacientes com urticária crônica ativa; (ii) 10 pacientes com urticária crônica em remissão e (iii) 15 pacientes com psoríase (uma doença com a pele infiltrado inflamatório constituído por neutrófilos, linfócitos e monócitos). Outros cinco pacientes com vasculite urticariforme foram alocados em nosso estudo, mas não incluídos na análise estatística. Os níveis séricos de D-dímero foram medidos por Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA), e os resultados foram medidos em ng / ml FEU. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes com urticária crônica ativa tinham níveis séricos mais altos de dímero-D (p <0,01), quando comparados aos pacientes com urticária crônica em remissão e ao grupo controle (pacientes com psoríase). CONCLUSÕES: Os pacientes com urticária crônica ativa têm níveis séricos mais elevados de dímero-D, quando comparados aos pacientes ...

Achados laboratoriais associados à acitretina e ao metotrexato no tratamento da psoríase: uma coorte histórica / Laboratorial findings of acitretine and methotrexate on the psoriasis treatment: an historic cohort study

Objetivos: Quantificar e avaliar os efeitos adversos causados pelo uso de acitretina e metotrexato o tratamento da psoríase. Material e métodos: Foi realizada uma coorte histórica para avaliação de intervenção em pacientes com uso de metotrexato e acitretina para tratamento de psoríase. Resultados: Foram revisados os prontuários de 101 pacientes, com um total de 127 tratamentos, tendo sido avaliadas as variáveis sexo, idade, tipo clínico de psoríase, medicação utilizada, dose média, tempo de uso, hepatotoxicidade, mielotoxicidade, nefrotoxicidade, alterações nos lipídeos e comorbidades. A incidência de hepatotoxicidade no grupo todo foi de 8,7% (11/127), sendo de 9% (4/44) no grupo do acitretina e 10,5% (6/58) no grupo do metotrexato. Mielotoxicidade teve incidência de 6% (8/127) em todo o grupo, 2% (1/44) no grupo do acitretina e 10,5% (6/58) no do metotrexato. Hiperlipidemia apresentou incidência de 34% (15/44) nos pacientes em uso de acitretina e 7% (4/58) nos que utilizaram metotrexato, sendo este o efeito adverso mais importante da acitretina (p=0,002). Alterações renais não foram encontradas. Conclusão: A principal diferença encontrada pelo estudo foi entre hiperlipidemia causada por acitretina em relação ao metotrexato. Na amostra estudada não foi observada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as drogas quanto à hepatotoxicidade e à mielotoxicidade. Os resultados do estudo permitem inferir que o metotrexato, medicação acessível, de baixo custo e bem conhecida do meio médico, demonstra perfil de toxicidade aceitável quando usado em determinadas doses, podendo ter seu uso preferencial cogitado, especialmente em contexto de assistência no setor público

Objectives: To quantify and evaluate the adverse effects caused by acitretine and methotrexate when treating psoriasis. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed to evaluate an intervention in patients using methotrexate and acitretine to treat psoriasis. Results: The records of 101 patients were reviewed, with a total of 127 treatments, and the following variables were evaluated: sex, age, clinical type of psoriasis, medication used, mean dose, time of use, hepatotoxicity, myelotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, alterations in the lipids and comorbidities. The rate of occurrence of hepatotoxicity in the group as a whole was 8.7% (11/127), 9% (4/44) in the acitretine group and 10.5% (6/58) in the methotrexate group. Myelotoxicity had a rate of occurrence of 6% (8/127) in the group as a whole, 2% (1/44) in the acitretine group and 10.5% (6/58) in the methotrexate one. The presence of hyperlipidemia was observed in 34% (15/44) of the patients who used acitretine, and in 7% (4/58) of those who used methotrexate, and this was the most important adverse effect of acitretine (p=0.002). No renal alterations were found. Conclusion: Themain difference found by the study was between hyperlipidemia caused by acitretine compared to methotrexate. In the sample studied no statistically significant difference was observed between the drugs as to hepatotoxicity and myelotoxicity. The results of the study allow the inference that methotrexate, a low-cost medication, well-known in the medical world, shows an acceptable toxicity profile, and its preferential use can be considered, especially in a context of public care

A Study on Altered Expression of Serine Palmitoyltransferase and Ceramidase in Psoriatic Skin Lesion

Ceramides are the main lipid component maintaining the lamellae structure of stratum corneum, as well as lipid second messengers for the regulation of cellular proliferation and/or apoptosis. In our previous study, psoriatic skin lesions showed marked decreased levels of ceramides and signaling molecules, specially protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-alpha) and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in proportion to the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores, which suggested that the depletion of ceramide is responsible for epidermal hyperproliferation of psoriasis via downregulation of proapoptotic signal cascade such as PKC-alpha and JNK. In this study, we investigated the protein expression of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) and ceramidase, two major ceramide metabolizing enzymes, in both psoriatic epidermis and non-lesional epidermis. The expression of SPT, the ceramide generating enzyme in the de novo synthesis in psoriatic epidermis, was significantly less than that of the non-lesional epidermis, which was inversely correlated with PASI score. However, the expression of ceramidase, the degradative enzyme of ceramides, showed no significant difference between the lesional epidermis and the non-lesional epidermis of psoriatic patients. This might suggest that decreased expression of SPT protein is one of the important causative factors for decreased ceramide levels in psoriasis.

Transforming growth factor beta-1 [Arg25Pro] SNPs: genetic and penotypic correlations in psoriatic Egyptian population

Associations have been described between polymorphisms of cytokine and growth factor genes and susceptibility to, or progression of, an increasing number of diseases. TGF-beta 1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. In this study, single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] in the TGF beta1gene were investigated as possible markets for the susceptibility or/and progression of psoriasis. Seventy six Egyptian psoriatic patients and eighty controls were screened for one TGF beta 1 SNPs: Arg25Pro. There were insignificant differences between psoriatic patients and controls in allele frequencies of SNP Arg25Pro. However, a significant association between a psoriasis area severity index [PASI] score and the carrying G allele was found [p=0.02], indicating an association with the severity of psoriasis. There was no significant association in carrying any of the alleles between males and females. It is concluded that there is a genetic associations Arg25Pro and the severity of psoriasis. This means that Arg25 may influence clinical course of psoriasis. TGFB1 SNPs may be useful prognostic indiacators for the progression/severity of psoriasis

A study of serum nitric oxide levels in psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: M any inter and intracellular mediators have been implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Nitric oxide has been shown to play an important role in many diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated raised levels of nitric oxide in psoriatic plaques which may be attributed to its effect on keratinocytes, on local cGMP levels or its ability to induce angiogenesis. AIMS: To detect serum nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with active psoriasis, to correlate these levels with severity of disease and compare them with those in normal individuals. METHODS: Thirty six patients with active psoriasis were selected after written consent. All patients on topical or systemic treatment for fifteen days prior to the study were excluded. Disease severity was assessed by PASI score and serum nitric oxide levels were detected by Greiss method and compared with age and sex matched controls. Statistical analysis of all data was done by unpaired t test. RESULTS: Out of 36 patients, 30 had chronic plaque psoriasis (mean NO 157.5), 4 had erythroderma (mean NO 120.2) and 2 had generalized pustular psoriasis (mean NO 144.3). The mean NO level in the psoriatic group was 157.7 with SD 50.4 while in the control group it was 32.8 with SD 4.03. The difference was statistically significant (t=13.8, P < 0.001). In the chronic plaque group, as the duration of disease increased, the NO levels increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Nitric oxide levels were significantly increased in patients with psoriasis and these levels showed a positive correlation with severity and duration in the chronic plaque type group.

Oxidant / Antioxidant Status in Patients with Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory skin disease with unknown etiology. Recently it has been suggested that increased ROS production and deficient function of antioxidant systems activities may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Although there are several studies investigating oxidant/antioxidant systems in psoriatic patients, the data obtained from these studies is not concordant. In this study, superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant potential (AOP) levels in thirty-five patients with psoriasis were investigated and compared with those of twenty-four control subjects. Clinical severity of the disease was determined according to the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores in the patients. Plasma SOD activity and MDA levels were significantly higher (p=0.012 and p=0.005 respectively), whereas AOP levels were lower, in patients than controls (p=0.001). There was no correlation between PASI scores and plasma SOD, MDA, and AOP levels. Our findings may provide some evidence for a potential role of increased ROS production and decreased antioxidant activity in psoriasis.

Serum Lipid Levels in Psoriasis

A predisposition to occlusive vascular diseases has been reported in patients with psoriasis and it has been suggested that some of these patients have some disorders of lipid metabolism. In this study, serum lipid levels were investigated in psoriatic patients to explore to the knowledge of this relationship. One hundred psoriatic patients and 100 non- psoriatic controls were included in the study. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol), and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-cholesterol) levels were measured. In patients with psoriasis, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were found to be significantly higher than those of controls. No significant differences were found in the other parameters. We concluded that psoriatic patients should be evaluated and followed up for the risk of hyperlipidemia and obstructive vascular diseases.

Interleukin-2 psoriasis evaluation of red vs. mediterranean sea bathing and uvb irradiation

Sixty psoriatic patients were studied to determine the effect of climatotherapy on their serum interleukin-2 and psoriatic lesions. They were divided into two groups bathed in Red and Mediterranean Sea water, followed by irradiation with incremental doses of UVB lamp three times weekly for four weeks. The study also included twenty healthy persons for detection of their serum IL-2 as a control group. The results showed a significant decrease of both serum IL-2 and PASI [psoriatic area and severity index] after treatment compared with those before treatment in both groups. The improvement may be due to a decreased number of Langerhans cells which decreased the immune reaction as a result of exposure to UVB. Also, sea water bathing may express osmotic pressure causing IL-2 to pass out of skin giving rise to improvement together with decrease of the mitotic rate of epidermis due to high salt concentration. There was no significant statistical difference in treatment with Red vs. Mediterranean Sea water bathing