Manal I Helmy, Maha A El-Gayyar, Suzan M Farok and Lubna Y Ibrahim
Journal of Pan-Arab League of Dermatologists
Vol. 19, No. 1, February 2008 Page 51-64
Effect of Smoking on Plasma Homocysteine Levels in Patients withPsoriasis: An Alarming Signal
Manal I Helmy*, Maha A El-Gayyar**, Suzan M Farok*** and Lubna Y Ibrahim***Dermatology & Venereology, Banha Teaching Hospital*, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine** and Clinical PathologyDepartment***, Banha Teaching Hospital
Abstract
High Homocysteine levels (HHcys) recently demonstrated in psoriasis, act as a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Smoking is an additional risk factor for HHcys and CVD. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to compare plasma total Hcys levels in psoriatic patients to normal subjects and evaluate the effect of chronic cigarette smoking. Plasma Hcys levels were measured in 67 psoriatic patients and 30 healthy volunteers who were matched for age, Body mass index (BMI) and smoking habits. Plasma Hcys levels were significantly higher in psoriatic patients versus control (26.8 ± 13.6 vs. 13.3 ± 9.2 μmol/l, P<0.0001) and in smokers versus non-smokers patients and control (32.7 ± 13.4 vs 21.4±11.5; 20.6±7.3 vs 5.8±1.4 μmol/l, P<0.0001 in either subgroup). They were also positively correlated with age, BMI, disease duration in psoriatic nonsmokers (P=0.0001) and with PASI scores in both smokers and nonsmokers (P > 0.01, P<0.001 respectively). Smoking effect was found to be dose and duration-dependent (P<0.001). Additionally, PASI scores were also positively correlated with BMI, duration and severity of smoking (P<0.05, P=0.001 respectively). Therefore, we can conclude that chronic cigarette smoking have a deleterious effect on plasma Hcys levels and PASI scores. These data demonstrate the importance of discouraging smoking, particularly among psoriasis patients.
Journal of Pan-Arab League of Dermatologists
Vol. 19, No. 1, February 2008 Page 51-64
Effect of Smoking on Plasma Homocysteine Levels in Patients withPsoriasis: An Alarming Signal
Manal I Helmy*, Maha A El-Gayyar**, Suzan M Farok*** and Lubna Y Ibrahim***Dermatology & Venereology, Banha Teaching Hospital*, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine** and Clinical PathologyDepartment***, Banha Teaching Hospital
Abstract
High Homocysteine levels (HHcys) recently demonstrated in psoriasis, act as a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Smoking is an additional risk factor for HHcys and CVD. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to compare plasma total Hcys levels in psoriatic patients to normal subjects and evaluate the effect of chronic cigarette smoking. Plasma Hcys levels were measured in 67 psoriatic patients and 30 healthy volunteers who were matched for age, Body mass index (BMI) and smoking habits. Plasma Hcys levels were significantly higher in psoriatic patients versus control (26.8 ± 13.6 vs. 13.3 ± 9.2 μmol/l, P<0.0001) and in smokers versus non-smokers patients and control (32.7 ± 13.4 vs 21.4±11.5; 20.6±7.3 vs 5.8±1.4 μmol/l, P<0.0001 in either subgroup). They were also positively correlated with age, BMI, disease duration in psoriatic nonsmokers (P=0.0001) and with PASI scores in both smokers and nonsmokers (P > 0.01, P<0.001 respectively). Smoking effect was found to be dose and duration-dependent (P<0.001). Additionally, PASI scores were also positively correlated with BMI, duration and severity of smoking (P<0.05, P=0.001 respectively). Therefore, we can conclude that chronic cigarette smoking have a deleterious effect on plasma Hcys levels and PASI scores. These data demonstrate the importance of discouraging smoking, particularly among psoriasis patients.