Serum Lipoprotein(a) and Lipid Levels in Patients with Chronic Plaque-Type Psoriasis

Abstract

Introduction: Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) was considered to be a chronic, recurrent skin disease, but it has been accepted as achronic systemic inflammatory disease in recent years. Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a lipoprotein that is synthesized in the liverand has a low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-like molecular structure consisting of phospholipids, cholesterol, and apolipoproteinB-100 derivative. Serum levels of Lp(a) are not affected by the amount of lipid incorporated into the diet and lifestylechanges. The aim of this study is to compare blood lipid and Lp(a) levels between the PV patient group and healthy controlgroup and to investigate whether psoriasis creates a predisposition to atherosclerosis.Methods: Forty-four patients with clinical and/or histopathological diagnosis of chronic plaque-type PV and 48 healthysubjects were included in the study. Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, serumLDL cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and serum Lp(a) levels were measured.Results: Total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL, LDL, and VLDL cholesterol levels were not statistically different betweenthe psoriasis and healthy control groups (p=0.071, p=0.374, p=0.060, p=0.421, and p=0.759, respectively). Lp(a) levels werehigher in the psoriasis group than in the healthy control group (p<0.001).Discussion and Conclusion: According to the results of our study, increased Lp(a) levels in patients with psoriasis may bemore likely to induce atherosclerosis than those in the normal population. On the other hand, the identification of the Lp(a)level in patients with psoriasis with cardiovascular diseases may be an appropriate diagnostic tool for the evaluation ofatherosclerotic and vasoocclusive pathologies.