Erythrocyte damage in mild and severe psoriasis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2004

Authors

Rocha Pereira, P (Author) Other; Santos Silva, A (Author) FFUP; Rebelo, I (Author) FFUP; Figneiredo, A (Author) Other; Quintanilha, A (Author) ICBAS; Teixeira, F (Author) Other

Journal

Title: British Journal of Dermatology

Vol. 150

Pages: 232-244

ISSN: 0007-0963

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 42 Citations

Scopus - 55 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-BNY

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.05801.x

Abstract (EN): Background Psoriasis is a common chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disorder. Oxygen metabolites and proteases released by activated inflammatory cells may induce oxidative and proteolytic damage to plasma constituents and red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs have a limited biosynthesis capacity and poor repair mechanisms. Objectives To study RBCs as a potential cumulative marker of oxidative and proteolytic stress in psoriasis, and as a marker of worsening of the disease. Methods The study was performed in 70 patients with mild or severe psoriasis and in 40 control individuals. We evaluated total and differential leucocyte count and, as markers of leucocyte activation, plasma elastase and lactoferrin. Besides the basic RBC study (RBC count, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration and haematimetric indices) we evaluated antioxidant defences (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and selenium), osmotic fragility and reticulocyte count; in the RBC membrane we evaluated lipid peroxidation and susceptibility to lipid peroxidation, membrane fluidity, levels of cholesterol and phospholipids, membrane-bound haemoglobin, band 3 profile and levels of vitamin E; serum levels of bilirubin, total plasma antioxidant capacity, lipid profile and lipid peroxidation were also evaluated. Results Psoriasis patients showed a rise in leucocytes, mainly neutrophils, which was associated with a rise in elastase and lactoferrin. Patients had a reduced RBC count, antioxidant defences and membrane fluidity, elevated membrane lipid peroxidation, membrane-bound haemoglobin, osmotic fragility and reticulocyte count, and a different band 3 profile. Most of these modifications were enhanced in severe psoriasis. Conclusions In summary, our data show that the RBCs are at a lower number in psoriasis patients, and present several changes denoting an enhanced damage and/or ageing process, which seem to be strongly connected with neutrophil activation, oxidative stress and worsening of psoriasis.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13