Dyslipidaemia & oxidative stress in patients of psoriasis: Emerging cardiovascular risk factors

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Psoriasis is a recurrent hyper-proliferative skin disease which is often associated with free radical generation, abnormal lipid metabolism and increased inflammatory secretion that induce cardiovascular risk in these patients. The present study was intended to evaluate serum lipids, lipoprotein and oxidants-antioxidants status and to establish their relationship with atherogenic risk markers [oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)] in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: The study was conducted on 150 psoriasis patients and 150 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Overnight fasting blood samples were obtained for lipids, lipoproteins, lipid oxidation and peroxidation products [oxLDL, malondialdehyde (MDA)], antioxidant enzymes [reduced glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant status] levels and hsCRP estimations. RESULTS: The mean levels of atherogenic lipids [total cholesterol (P<0.001), triacylglycerol (P<0.01)], lipid peroxidation products (P<0.001) and oxLDL and hsCRP (P<0.001) levels in patients with psoriasis were found to be significantly higher than those of healthy controls. On the other hand, ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP, P<0.001) and antioxidant enzyme activities (reduced GSH, P<0.01) were significantly lower when compared to healthy controls. The plasma oxLDL was positively correlated to LDL cholesterol (P<0.001) and MDA (P<0.001) and negatively associated with antioxidant status in these patients. Serum MDA, FRAP and oxLDL were correlated with risk of atherosclerosis in the patients with psoriasis; however, no significant association was found between reduced GSH and hsCRP. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that LDL oxidation and reactive oxygen species in addition to inflammatory markers may play a pivotal role in inducing atherosclerosis in patients of psoriasis.