BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune mediated systemic inflammatory disease associated with an enhanced cardiovascular risk. The development of atherosclerosis is believed to be partly related to long lasting inflammatory process seen in psoriasis.
OBJECTIVE:
We assessed serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers: psoriasin (S100A7) and koebnerisin (S100A15) and examined their relationship with carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in psoriatic patients as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis

METHODS:
Forty-five patients with plaque type psoriasis and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included. The clinical severity of psoriasis was estimated using the psoriatic area and severity index (PASI) score. For all participants, the traditional cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. Serum levels of S100A7 and S100A15 were measured with ELISA and intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries was measured to detect subclinical atherosclerosis.

RESULTS:
There was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar or triglyceride levels. However, total cholesterol and LDL levels were higher (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) and HDL levels (p = 0.02) were lower in patients compared to controls. Patients with psoriasis showed significantly higher levels of S100A7 (26.61 ± 22.45 ng/ml vs. 6.31 ± 1.68ng/ml, p < 0.001) and S100A15 (21.2 ± 13.12 ng/ml vs. 12.2 ± 4.67 ng/ml, p = 0.001) as well as increased IMT values (1.07 ± 0.4 mm vs. 0.61 ± 0.1 mm, p < 0.001) as compared with controls. A positive correlation was observed between IMT and PASI score (r = 0.782, p < 0.001), serum S100A7 (r = 0.475, p = 0.004) and S100A15 levels (r = 0.478, p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION:
Elevated S100A7 and S100A15 serum levels are associated with increased carotid intima media thickness and might contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis in psoriasis.