Screening of antigliadin and antitissue transglutaminase antibodies in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis: a case-control study

BACKGROUND/AIM: In this study, we aimed to investigate different types of celiac antibodies in psoriasis patients and to see if the presence of the antibodies was associated with other variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included patients with plaque psoriasis who were followed up in our dermatology clinic between February 2019 and February 2021 and added a healthy control group for comparison. The antibodies studied were serum antitissue transglutaminase (tTG)-IgA, tTG-IgG, antigliadin antibody (AGA)-IgA, and AGA-IgG. The patients’ records were used to note age, sex, the pattern of psoriasis involvement, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), presence of hypertension, presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, use of methotrexate, and use of biologic agents. RESULTS: Sixty-five psoriasis patients (31 F, 34 M, mean age: 38.9 ± 15.2) and 65 controls (42 F, 23 M, mean age: 40.7 ± 13.2) were included in the study. There was no significant difference in antibody levels between the groups: tTG-IgA (2.4 U/mL vs 3.2 U/mL, p = 0.11), tTG-IgG (2.2 U/mL vs 3.2 U/mL, p = 0.74), AGA-IgA (2.4 U/mL vs 3.5 U/mL, p = 0.068), and AGA-IgG (3.2 U/mL vs 4.2 U/mL, p = 0.15). One patient from the psoriasis group only had borderline positive antibody levels whereas the rest of the psoriasis and control group had negative levels. Hypertensive psoriasis patients had significantly higher AGA-IgA titers compared to normotensive psoriasis patients (4.2 U/mL vs 2.3 U/mL, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: There was no increase in the AGA-IgA/IgG and tTG-IgA/IgG levels in psoriasis patients compared to the healthy population. However, hypertensive psoriasis patients had higher AGA-IgA levels compared to normotensive ones.