Platelet count and indices in patients with psoriasis: Are they associated with disease severity?

Abstract

Background and Aim: Psoriasis is an immunologically mediated chronic inflammatory skin disease. Altered platelets in psoriasis patients may have a role in predisposition to cardiovascular complications. The aim of this study is to study the platelet count (PLT) and indices in patients with psoriasis and to correlate platelet indices with Disease Area Severity Index score. Materials and Methods: The study was done in a tertiary care hospital. It was performed on 42 psoriasis patients (study group) and twenty healthy controls. Lifestyle factors, PLTs, and platelet indices were compared between psoriasis cases and controls. Correlation between these parameters and Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score was also studied in psoriasis patients. Chi-square test was applied to compare the categorical data from patients and controls. Spearman's rank correlation was used to correlate lifestyle factors with the severity of disease. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to find the correlation between PASI and platelet parameters. Results: We found that PASI correlated with smoking (P = 0.042) and levels of psychological stress (P = 0.002). PLT (P = 0.043) and plateletcrit (P = 0.043) were significantly higher in the study group, whereas platelet distribution width (PDW) (P = 0.05) was lower in the study group. We found a significant correlation of PASI with PDW (P = 0.031), mean platelet volume (P = 0.050). and PLCR (0.028). Conclusion: Lifestyle factors such as smoking and levels of psychological stress play a significant role in psoriasis disease severity. There is a correlation of PLT and platelet indices with the pathogenesis and manifestation of disease.

Keywords

• platelet
• platelet indices
• psoriasis
• psoriasis area severity index score