High sensitivity C-reactive protein, a predictor of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, and psoriasis: a case control study

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory disease, is associated with systemic comorbidities. The blood levels of various inflammatory markers are increased in psoriasis. One of them is high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). The serum level of hs-CRP is increased in many inflammatory diseases like psoriasis, cardio vascular diseases, infections, arthritis and others. The objectives of the study were to determine serum level of hs-CRP in psoriasis in relation to its PASI score, which is a subjective method to determine severity of the disease, whereas hs-CRP is an objective and more reliable method. And to have a better idea of systemic inflammatory process caused by psoriasis, serum level of hs-CRP was evaluated in psoriasis patients. Methods: A case control study was conducted including 38 patients of chronic plaque psoriasis from dermatology outpatient department of Maharaja Agrasen Medical College (MAMC), Agroha, India, and 38 healthy controls. Results: The serum level of hs-CRP was significantly raised in psoriasis patients (p<0.001). The mean hs-CRP level in psoriasis patients was 6.824±8.562 mg/l whereas it was 1.072±0.929 mg/l in controls. Two observations were noticed, one, the increase in hs-CRP level correlated with PASI score and second, it was much higher in psoriatic patients as compared to controls. Conclusions: The much higher hs-CRP levels in psoriasis as compared to controls and its correlation with severity of psoriasis has led us to propose that this much high hs-CRP is a biomarker of systemic inflammatory process of psoriasis as well as inflamed cutaneous lesions.