Research Article - Journal of Dermatology Research and Skin Care (2023) Volume 7, Issue 2
Evaluation of the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin d levels and body mass index in patients with familial and non-familial psoriasis and their association with disease severity
Background: Psoriasis is a common skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, poor differentiation, and altered immune system. Vitamin D deficiency and obesity may considered as independent risk factors for psoriasis.
The Objective: is to evaluate serum status of 25 hydroxyvitamin D and the body mass index in familial and nonfamilial chronic plaque psoriatic patients and their correlation with the severity of the disease.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study had been conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology – Al-Sader Medical Hospital in province of AL-Najaf, for the period March 2020 to October 2020. A total of 120 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis were included, divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a positive family history of psoriasis in their first-degree relatives (60 patients for each group).
Results: A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/ml) was shown in both groups (83.4% in the familial vs. 93.3% in the non-familial group). No significant differences in the mean of vitamin D between the two groups were observed. Psoriasis was significantly more severe in the familial group. There was no significant weak negative relationship between psoriasis severity and vitamin D level in both groups.
Conclusions: A low level of vitamin D was found in psoriatic patients regardless of the family history of the disease. Body mass index in psoriatic patients not related to family history or severity of the disease. Psoriatic patients with a family history had an earlier onset and more severe disease.