ANNALS OF CLINICAL AND LABORATORY SCIENCE, vol.46, no.2, pp.174-179, 2016 (SCI-Expanded)
Abstract. Purpose. Psoriasis is an immune-mediated skin disease characterised by accentuated keratinocyte
proliferation, hyperkeratinisation, leukocyte and T-lymphocyte chemotaxis, and neoangiogenesis. Chronic
inflammation, imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and many angiogenic mediators
has been implicated in the disease etiopathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether psoriasis
is related to fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and placental growth factor (PLGF) – mediators related
to insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis. Materials and Methods. Forty five
patients with plaque type psoriasis and forty five healthy controls were included in the study. Serum FGF23
and PLGF concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. Mean
homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) values and serum levels of insulin, FGF23 and PLGF, in patients
with psoriasis were found to be higher than those of in healthy controls (p= 0.001, p=0.001, p=0.001
and p=0.003 respectively). Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score correlated significantly with PLGF
levels (p=0.039). There was a significant positive correlation between FGF23 and PLGF (p<0.001). CRP
was significantly correlated with BMI (p=0.019), glucose (p=0.017), TC (p=0.043), TG (p=0.003), and
VLDL-C (p=0.004) in patients with psoriasis. Conclusion. Increased serum FGF23 and PLGF levels and
the presence of positive correlation between PLGF and PASI score probably reflects the inflammatory state
and IR seen in psoriasis. Above mentioned correlations provide rationale for possible application of serum
FGF23 and especially of PLGF measurements as biomarkers of disease severity, which could be useful for
management of treatment efficacy.