Markers of Inflammation and Thrombophilia in Psoriasis

Background: Psoriasis is a common chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disease associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperhomocysteinemia. Psoriasis also associated with increased risk of atherothrombosis. Objective: Evaluation of serum levels of inflammation and thrombophilia markers in psoriatic patients. Patients and Methods: Thirty patients with psoriasis and twenty gender and age-matched controls were included in this study. All of them were subjected to: History taking, clinical assessment, body mass index (BMI) calculation, blood pressure (BP) measurement and calculation of PASI score. Laboratory investigations to determine the following: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), Homocysteine (Hcy), folic acid and vitamin B 12, Antithrombin III (AT-III), Prothrombin time (PT) and Activated partial thromboplastin time (APPT). Results: The marker of inflammation (hs-CRP) was significantly increased in the patients group compared with the control group and it positively correlated with PASI score. In the patients' group there was significant increase in serum Hcy level with significant positive correlation between Hcy level and PASI score. There was significant decrease in serum level of antithrombin III, PT, folic acid and VB 12 levels in patients group when compared to control group. Conclusion: Increased concentration of inflammatory markers and homocysteine may play a role in the atherothrombotic state which may increase cardiovascular risk in psoriatic patients.