Methotrexate results in decline of Oxidative Stress in psoriasis

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This 60 case to study looked at inflammatory markers such as sialic acids and the oxidative stress index (OSI) in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance between the systemic manifestation of reactive oxygen species and a biological system's ability to readily detoxify the reactive intermediates or to repair the resulting damage.

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Background and objectives:
Recent studies have implicated the association between oxidative stress and inflammation in pathogenesis of psoriasis and its associated comorbidities. Hence, we undertook to study inflammatory markers such as sialic acids and the oxidative stress index (OSI) in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Methods:
Sixty cases and 60 healthy controls were included in this cohort study. Disease severity was assessed by psoriasis area severity index scoring. Serum levels of oxidative stress (total oxidant status, total antioxidant status) and inflammation (highly sensitive C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], total sialic acid, protein bound sialic acid) markers were estimated in controls and cases at baseline and on follow-up. OSI was calculated as the ratio of total oxidant status to total antioxidant status.

Results:
Baseline serum levels of OSI, hs-CRP, and sialic acids were significantly higher in cases compared to controls. Baseline OSI and sialic acids demonstrated a significant correlation with disease severity. After 12 weeks of therapy, there was a significant decline in OSI and serum levels of hs-CRP and sialic acids.

Conclusions:
Our results demonstrate that oxidative stress and inflammation are significantly associated with psoriasis, and treatment with methotrexate results in a significant decline of both the inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

*Funding: JIPMER, Puducherry, India (Intramural Research Grant)