Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with systemic comorbidities as metabolic syndrome. Interleukin- 17(IL-17) has been identified as a central player in psoriasis associated inflammation.
Objective: To investigate serum IL-17 levels in relation to metabolic disturbances in psoriasis.
Materials and methods: Serum Il-17 levels were measured in 55 patients with psoriasis (26 having metabolic syndrome) and 50 healthy volunteers using the ELIZA method.
Results: Serum IL-17 levels were higher in psoriasis patients than controls (P=0.03), and in psoriatic patients with metabolic syndrome than psoriatic patients without metabolic syndrome (P=0.043). Serum IL-17 level was particularly increased in the presence of dyslipidemia and obesity (P=0.001 and 0.041 respectively).
Conclusion: Proinflammatory IL-17 in patients with psoriasis seems to be enhanced in the presence of metabolic syndrome particularly related to obesity and dyslipidemia.