Psoriasis and atopy

ABSTRACT

In an attempt to correlate psoriasis and atopy, personal and family history of atopy together with serum total immunoglobulin E [IgE] levels and peripheral blood absolute eosinophilic counts [AEC] were investigated in 50 Libyan patients with psoriasis [Sex 21 males, 29 females; age 12-60 years]. A random group of 100 subjects and their first degree relatives was included as 'control subjects' for comparing the prevalence of atopy. The serum total IgE levels and AEC in psoriatic patients were compared with a control group of 70 healthy subjects [Sex 35 males, 35 females; age 19-44 years]. Further comparison was mode with a group of 30 non-psoriatic patients with one or more atopic manifestations [Sex 7 males, 23 females; age 13-40 years]. Although 17 [34%] and 9 [18%] psoriatic patients gave personal history and only family history of atopy respectively, these were found to be similar to these of control subjects [P > 0.01]. No difference was also observed regarding the prevalence of atopy in first degree relatives of psoriatic and controls [P > 0.25]. Both serum IgE levels and AEC in psoriatic as well as atopic patients were significantly higher than in controls [Controls vs psoriatics - IgE P < 0.005, AEC P < 0.001; Controls vs atopics - IgE P < 0.05, AEC P < 0.001], but no differences were noted between psoriatics and atopics [P > 0.5]. These changes in IgE levels and AEC in psoriatics were found to be independent of history of atopy as well as severity of the disease suggesting that there is no relation between psoriasis and atopy