Increased plasma lipocalin-2 levels correlate with disease severity and may be a marker of acute inflammatory response in patients with psoriasis

Abstract

Background: More than a skin disease, psoriasis is also considered a systemic disorder. Lipocalin- 2, an adipokine, may be a link between psoriasis and systemic inflammation. Objectives: We conducted this study to measure the plasma level of lipocalin-2 and investigate its relationship with the clinical manifestations in patients with psoriasis. Methods: We assessed 62 patients with psoriasis and 31 healthy controls. Their demographic information and clinical characteristics were determined by physical examination and review of the recorded medical history. Plasma lipocalin-2 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Plasma lipocalin-2 concentration was significantly higher in patients with psoriasis than in the control group (P<0.001). Patients with acute psoriatic subgroups, including psoriatic erythroderma and pustular psoriasis, had significantly higher plasma lipocalin-2 levels than those with the chronic plaque type. In addition, plasma lipocalin-2 concentration positively correlates with the disease severity index, including the psoriasis area severity index, body surface area, highsensitivity C-reactive protein, nail psoriasis severity index, and pustular severity index. Conclusion: In patients with psoriasis, increased plasma lipocalin-2 levels correlated with severity and indicated an active disease state. These findings suggest that lipocalin-2 may play an important role in determining the pathogenesis of acute psoriasis and may serve as a valuable clinical biomarker of this disease.

Keywords

• Adipokines, Comorbiditity, Inflammation, Lipocalin-2, Psoriasis