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Background: As a chronic inflammatory condition, psoriasis results from an interaction between genetic and immunologic factors in a predisposing environment. In spite of compelling evidence for the role of T cells and cytokines in psoriasis, interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-22 have not been sufficiently investigated., Objective: To assess the serum levels of IL-10 and IL-22 in patients with psoriasis compared to healthy controls., Methods: A total of 28 patients with psoriasis were compared with 28 age and sex-matched healthy subjects. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) criteria were used to measure the severity of the disease. Serum levels of IL-10 and IL-22 were measured in both groups and compared., Results: The mean serum level of IL-10 was 89.5±18.7 in patients compared to 117.2±23.4 pg/ml in the controls (p=0.36). Also, serum level of IL-22 was 284.1±49.7 in patients versus 425.4±82.8 pg/ml in control group (p=0.17). There was a significant direct correlation between levels of IL-10 and IL-22 in patients group (p=0.0005). The clinical severity of psoriasis was significantly correlated with high levels of IL-22 (p<0.0001)., Conclusion: The direct correlation between higher levels of IL-22 and disease severity supports the clinical implication of this cytokine in psoriasis.

Background:: C-reactive protein is an inflammatory biomarker and its level increases in the serum of psoriatic patients. Its level is also associated with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score., Objective:: The aim of this study was to assess the decrement of serum C-reactive protein level with narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy., Methods:: C-reactive protein serum levels in psoriasis patients were measured before and after treatment with NB-UVB and the data were analyzed in relation to the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score improvement., Results:: Baseline C-reactive protein levels among psoriatic patients were higher than normal. These levels decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.001). At the beginning of the study, patients with higher levels of C-reactive protein also had more extensive and severe skin involvement. The highest decrease in C-reactive protein was observed in patients who responded better to the treatment and achieved a higher Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75%. There was an association between baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores and C-reactive protein levels., Conclusion:: Patients with moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis had active systemic inflammation, which was demonstrated by increased levels of C-reactive protein. Furthermore, skin disease severity was correlated with C-reactive protein levels. Phototherapy healed the psoriatic skin lesions and reduced inflammation, while decreasing C-reactive protein levels., Competing Interests: None

Background: Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory and proliferative skin disease associated with abnormal lipid metabolism. Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with psoriasis may have an increased risk of occlusive vascular disease., Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine lipid profile in Iranian patients with psoriasis., Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 30 patients with approved psoriasis diagnosis attending the Dermatology Outpatient Department at Sina Hospital, Hamedan, Iran and 30 matched healthy individuals. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were measured using standard enzymatic method. The psoriasis activity was evaluated by psoriasis area and severity index (PASI Index)., Results: FBS levels were higher in patients with psoriasis diagnosis but the differences were not significant (P-value = 0.284). There were no significant differences between serum levels of triglyceride and cholesterol in two groups. There were no differences in lipoproteins (HDL, LDL, VLDL) compared with control subjects. (P-value > 0.05) PASI Index and lipid profile did not have any significant correlation. The correlation between duration of disease and LDL were significant (P-value = 0.033)., Conclusion: Lipid profile in Iranian patients with psoriasis did not differ compared with control-matched subjects.

Mohammadreza Sobhan, Mahmoud Farshchian Psoriasis Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Farshchian Hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Objective: Compared with healthy people, overweight and obesity are more commonly found among those suffering from skin conditions such as psoriasis. The present study was an attempt to survey the relationship between obesity and intensity of psoriasis.Patients and methods: A total of 42 patients with psoriasis who were referred to Farshchian Hospital, Hamadan, participated in this cross-sectional descriptive–analytical study. Patients were classified into mild, moderate and severe based on the intensity of the disease measured by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Body mass index (BMI), waist size, age, gender, smoking and drinking habits of the participants were measured and compared.Results: A total of 15 (35.07%) patients had mild psoriasis, 9 (21.4%) patients had moderate psoriasis and 18 (42.9%) patients suffered from severe psoriasis. Mean BMI of mild psoriasis patients was 25.86±5.93 kg/m2, and this figure for the moderate and severe psoriasis patients was 30.85±3.77 kg/m2 and 26.96±5.68 kg/m2, respectively (P=0.096). Mean waist size of the mild psoriasis patients was 91.54±11.49 cm, and for moderate and severe patients, it was 99±8.39 cm and 92.17±10.73 cm, respectively (P=0.211).Conclusion: The results of this study showed no significant difference between mean value of body mass index, waist size, age and gender in mild, moderate and severe groups of the psoriasis patients. Keywords: psoriasis, body mass index, PASI measure