The Effects of Systemic Psoriasis Therapies on the C-Reactive Protein and the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio

BACKGROUND: Currently, no generally accepted laboratory marker for monitorizing the disease activity and therapy response of psoriasis is known. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of systemic therapies on C-reactive protein (CRP) and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in psoriasis. METHODS: One hundred patients with psoriasis treated with narrow band ultraviolet B, acitretin, cyclosporine, methotrexate, adalimumab, etanercept, and ustekinumab were prospectively evaluated. At baseline and at week 12, CRP, NLR, and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) were evaluated. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease was observed in PASI scores, CRP, and NLR values from the baseline to the 12-week visit (p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively). The reduction in PASI scores and NLR values was positively correlated (r=0.460, p=0.001). The comparisons between treatment groups revealed that the median decrease in NLR values was statistically higher in the adalimumab group than in the methotrexate group (p=0.007). And the median decrease in PASI scores was significantly higher in the adalimumab group compared with the methotrexate and acitretin therapy group (p=0.007, p=0.042, respectively). CONCLUSION: In the present study, systemic therapy of psoriasis was demonstrated to decrease the levels of CRP and NLR, which are known to be indicators of systemic inflammation and cardiovascular comorbidities.