Influence of oxidative injury and monitoring of blood plasma by DSC on patients with psoriasis

Oxidative stress induced by oxygen free radicals (OFRs) is a casual factor in psoriasis. Our aim was to detect the oxidative stress parameters and blood plasma changes with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in psoriatic patients. The study included untreated (n = 39) and treated (retinoids, methotrexate, biologic response modifiers; n = 33) white adult patients from both sex. To monitor oxidative stress concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione and sulfhydryl groups, production of OFRs, and activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase, and catalase were measured. Denaturation of plasma components was detected in SETARAM Micro DSC-II calorimeter. Total production of OFRs and MPO activity, and the concentration of MDA were significantly increased both in untreated patients with moderate and severe symptoms and in all drug-treated groups compared with controls (p < 0.001). All of the scavengers and antioxidants were significantly decreased in untreated patients and better preserved after retinoid and biological therapy. DSC scans of blood plasma showed melting temperature a characteristic parameter to follow the severity of disease. The calorimetric enthalpy is exhibiting a moderate decrease with the progression of the inflammation. These findings suggest that an imbalance exists between pro-oxidants and antioxidants in untreated severe psoriatic patients. All drug therapy reduced the changes, mainly the biologic response modifiers. Similarly, DSC showed differences between untreated and conventional systemic drug treatment.