C-reactive protein and leucocyte activation in psoriasis vulgaris according to severity and therapy

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Coimbra, S (Author) Other; Oliveira, H (Author) Other; Reis, F (Author) Other; Belo, L (Author) FFUP; Rocha, S (Author) FFUP; Quintanilha, A (Author) ICBAS; Figueiredo, A (Author) Other; Teixeira, F (Author) Other; Castro, E (Author) Other; Rocha Pereira, P (Author) Other; Santos Silva, A (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

Vol. 24 No. 10

Pages: 789-796

ISSN: 0926-9959

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 81 Citations

Scopus - 103 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-5CV

DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03527.x

Abstract (EN): Background Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease and psoriatic lesions have shown leucocyte infiltration. Objectives We aimed to study C-reactive protein (CRP) and leucocyte activation markers/inhibitors as potential monitors of psoriasis vulgaris. Methods A cross-sectional (n = 73) and a longitudinal study (before, at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of therapy; n = 47) was performed; 10 patients started topical treatment, 17 narrow-band ultraviolet light B (NBUVB) and 20 psolaren associated to UVA (PUVA); psoriasis severity was defined by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Results Compared with control (n = 38), we found higher CRP levels, total leukocyte/neutrophil count, elastase, lactoferrin and alpha 1-antitrypsin. Increasing PASI was linked to increasing CRP and a trend to higher elastase and lactoferrin, suggesting that worsening enhances inflammatory response with neutrophil activation. CRP correlated with PASI, total leucocytes, neutrophils, elastase, lactoferrin and alpha 1-antitrypsin. NBUVB and PUVA presented similar effects. Conclusion We propose CRP as a useful marker of psoriasis severity that could be used to monitor psoriasis and its treatment, and, together with PASI and elastase, could also be used as a global index of severity.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8