Markers of inflammation in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis

Introduction: The pathogenesis of psoriasis is complex. Genetic factors have a basic role, followed by immunological disturbances, which have been found to provoke a chronic inflammatory process affecting the skin and joints. The study aimed to establish and analyze the relationship between the inflammatory manifestations and vitamin D status in the patients with psoriasis.Patients and methods: We investigated 113 patients with moderate or severe psoriasis, divided in two groups for analysis: presence of psoriasis without psoriatic arthritis (n=73) and with psoriatic arthritis (n=40). Clinical data for inflammation were assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). At hospital admission samples were collected for C-reactive protein (CRP) and blood count, as well as for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D. The serum levels of 25(OH)D were tested with immune fluorescent method in 92 patients.Results: The patients with psoriatic arthritis compared to psoriatic patients without arthritis had higher C-reactive protein (31.77 30.61 mg/l vs. 4.13 4.19 mg/l, p