Serum levels of interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-α and γ-interferon in Egyptian psoriatic patients and correlation with disease severity.

Psoriatic plaques have been shown to contain increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Also, serum levels of several cytokines have been reported elevated in psoriatic patients. It is postulated that changes in cytokine production both locally and systemically could be useful in monitoring disease activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum cytokine profile of interleukin (IL)-8, γ-interferon (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in Egyptian psoriatic patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique and to correlate these levels with disease severity. We analyzed serum samples from 60 Egyptian patients (31 females and 29 males) with a mean age of 40.2 ± 17.4 years with active psoriasis, and 21 healthy volunteers for major T-helper type 1 cytokines using the ELISA technique. The disease severity, including erythema, induration and scales, was assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. TNF-α and IFN-γ were markedly elevated in all sera from psoriatic patients. TNF-α was found a more efficient predictor for disease severity than IL-8 and IFN-γ using three receiver-operator curves with accuracy. IL-8 was also moderately elevated and correlated with the age of patients (r = 0.28). We have obtained evidence that TNF-α in our study was found to be more useful than the other two tested cytokines, IL-8 and IFN-γ as a follow-up marker for monitoring disease severity in Egyptian psoriatic patients. A positive correlation between lL-8 and the age of the patients was also noted.

Congenital isolated leukonychia totalis in three Egyptian sibs.

Isolated leukonychia totalis is a rare condition of nails with mainly an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. In this report, we present three sibs (a sister and two brothers) with isolated congenital leukonychia totalis, without any manifestation among parents and other family members. The sibs had similar facial features and were offspring of consanguineous Egyptian parents. We discussed possible mechanisms of inheritance and suggested an autosomal recessive mode of transmission.

Serum interferon-gamma is a psoriasis severity and prognostic marker.

The aim of this study was to measure serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels in participants with different types and severities of psoriasis. The study was conducted on 21 participants with psoriasis. Participants were divided into 3 groups according to disease severity: erythrodermic, severe plaque, and mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. Fifteen participants received different treatment modalities for 16 weeks and were followed for an additional 12 weeks. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to measure serum IFN-gamma levels in participants before treatment and compared with matched controls and participants receiving treatment. Significant differences were detected between participants and controls in mean serum IFN-gamma levels before treatment (P<.05). There was a positive correlation between serum IFN-gamma levels and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores, and between serum IFN-gamm levels and clinical type of psoriasis, with the highest serum IFN-gamma levels in the erythrodermic psoriasis group and the lowest in the mild to moderate plaque psoriasis group. Irrespective of the type of treatment, 13 of 15 participants who showed improvement in disease condition with a significant decrease in PASI scores also had a significant decrease in serum IFN-gamma levels (P < .05). Moreover, participants with serum IFN-gamma levels that did not dramatically decrease had a shorter remission period compared with those who showed a significant decrease in serum IFN-gamma levels. The substantial elevation and variation in serum IFN-gamma levels according to disease severity suggest that IFN-gamma has a role in determining disease severity and therapy evaluation, which encourages further research on anti-IFN-gamma biologic therapy in the treatment of psoriasis.