MINERAL BONE DENSITY AND VITAMIN D LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS.

The objective of this study was to explore the possible differences in bone mass density (BMD) and markers of bone metabolism between patients with psoriasis with concomitant psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and patients with psoriasis only (PV). A comparable sample of both types of patients were included in analysis. In all patients, vitamin D serum levels along with inflammatory markers and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured. BMD was assessed with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan in axial and appendicular skeleton. Patients with PsA tended to have decreased BMD in axial skeleton, while BMD in appendicular skeleton was comparable between the groups. No statistically significant correlation was found of inflammatory markers, vitamin D and PTH levels with BMD in either patient group. A negative correlation was recorded between vitamin D serum concentration and PTH levels.