Vitamin d deficiency in psoriatic patients -A case control study

Abstract Introduction: Many studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency have been associated with multiple autoimmune conditions like psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus. Objective: The main purpose of this study was to analyze vitamin D status of psoriasis patients in comparison to healthy controls. Materials and Methods: The study comprised of 50 (30 male & 20 female) clinically confirmed cases of chronic plaque psoriasis of age group (20-60 years) attending outpatient department of Dermatology, venereology, leprosy, Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College & Hospital, Karaikal from 2012 to 2014.At the same time 50 healthy individuals without psoriasis were also investigated (age & sex matched). Results: The mean serum 25-OHD levels in psoriatic patients and controls were 22.308+_2.974 and 33.726 +_2.688 ng/ml respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P= Limitations: Additional studies with bigger numbers of patients are essential to evaluate the pathogenic mechanisms associated with psoriasis and vitamin D.   Keywords: Psoriasis, Autoimmunity, Psoriasis Area and severity index, 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Introduction Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious skin disease characterized by red, inflamed cutaneous lesions covered with silvery-white scale. It involves the innate immunologic system (keratinocytes, dendritic cells, histiocytes, mastocytes and endothelial cells) and acquired immunologic system (T lymphocytes).[1]Psoriatic plaques are defined histologically by epidermal hyperplasia, epidermal and dermal infiltration by leukocytes and changes in dermal microvasculature.[2] Psoriasis affects both genders equally and can occur at any age, although it most commonly appears for the first time between the ages of 15 and 25. The disease affects the skin and potentially the joints. The prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in psoriasis patients is estimated to be between 25-31%. Vitami