Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease. The chronic inflammation was also observed to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular episodes as a result of dyslipidemia. Thus, psoriasis and dyslipidemia may share a common causative mechanism. Lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcoholism may further deteriorate the condition.
Objective: The objective of this study was to study the lipid profile pattern in psoriasis with relation to lifestyle factors.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with comparison groups. Fifty diagnosed cases of psoriasis were chosen, out of that 16 were smoker and 12 were alcoholic, and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy normal subjects as controls were also selected for the study. In this study, we measured total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and very LDL cholesterol (VLDL-C) with relation to lifestyle factors, i.e. smoking and alcoholism.
Results: The mean levels of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and VLDL-C were 213.5 ± 39.56 mg%, 223.94 ± 34.74 mg%, 136.42 ± 29.1 mg%, and 44.8 ± 6.95 mg% in cases, respectively, and 157.96+ 24.71 mg%, 142.98 ± 21.87 mg%, 80.6 ± 16.79 mg%, and 28.6 ± 4.30 mg% in controls, respectively (P < 0.0001); HDL-C levels were 42.64 ± 6.92 mg% in case and 48.8 ± 8.46 mg% in controls (P = 0.0001). Moreover, levels of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and VLDL-C were significantly increased and HDL-C level was significantly decreased in cases with smoking and alcohol habits compared to the cases without smoking and alcoholism. This change indicates dyslipidemia in psoriasis.
Conclusions: Lipid profile may be monitored in the psoriasis cases to minimize the severity of disease and modification in lifestyle factors may be suggested to improve clinical condition.
Key words: Psoriasis; Lipid Profile; Smoking; Alcoholism
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