Psoriasis and Co-morbidities: Is Hyperhomocystienemia the Common Link?

BACKGROUND

Hyperhomocystienemia is a plausible common link between psoriasis and associated co-morbidities.

AIM: To assess and compare serum homocystiene levels in 160(M:F 94:66) patients aged 18-70 years with chronic plaque psoriasis of varying severity with or without metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular and thyroid disorders and controls. The 155 controls (M:F 97:58) were healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 66 years.

RESULTS

Overall, 123 (76.9%) psoriasis patients with or without co-morbidities and 87 (56.1%) controls had elevated serum homocystiene levels; 23.48±14.37 and 18.74±12.59 (mean±SD) µmol/L, respectively. Eighty-one (58%) patients had associated co-morbidities with mean serum homocystiene levels of 22.65±13.70 µmol/L.The difference between psoriasis patients with or without comorbidities and controls was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperhomocystienemia in psoriasis patients with or without comorbidities versus healthy controls suggests its possible dysregulation in psoriasis. The significance of hyperhomocystienemia as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular or other comorbidities in psoriasis patients remains tenuous at best. Well-designed studies will perhaps resolve this issue.