A study on status of homocysteine in psoriasis patients

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory, proliferative skin disease characterized by pathological skin lesions due to various exogenous and endogenous factors. It is associated with a number of biochemical and immunological disturbances. Recently, it has been suggested that increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and compromised function of antioxidant system may be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. This study intends to assess and compare the levels of HCY and MDA amongst the cases and healthy controls. In the present study, total of 100 subjects, among them 25 psoriasis patients were selected. Serum levels of malondialdehyde and Homocysteine levels were increased in psoriasis as compared to controls. We found severity wise significantly increased serum malondialdehyde and HCY status in patients with psoriasis. Our results indicate that, in psoriasis patients with increased oxidative stress there is increased Homocysteine levels. In conclusion, Homocysteine could serve as a biomarker of psoriasis severity but not as a marker of psoriasis.