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Erythrocyte damage in mild and severe psoriasis
P Rocha-Pereira1, A Santos-Silva, I Rebelo
1Departamento de Química da Universidade da Beira Interior, Rua Marquês d'Avila e Bolama, 6200 Covilhã, Portugal. petrorp@ciunix.ubi.pt
The British Journal of Dermatology
|March 5, 2004
Summary
Red blood cells (RBCs) show increased damage and aging in psoriasis patients, linked to neutrophil activation and oxidative stress. These RBC changes may indicate disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Hematology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition.
- Inflammatory cells release substances that can damage red blood cells (RBCs).
- RBCs have limited repair capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate RBCs as potential markers of oxidative and proteolytic stress in psoriasis.
- Assess RBCs as indicators of psoriasis disease progression.
Main Methods:
- Compared 70 psoriasis patients (mild/severe) with 40 controls.
- Assessed leukocyte counts, plasma elastase, and lactoferrin.
- Evaluated RBC parameters: count, antioxidant defenses, osmotic fragility, lipid peroxidation, membrane fluidity, and band 3 profile.
Main Results:
- Psoriasis patients had elevated leukocytes, elastase, and lactoferrin.
- RBCs showed reduced count, antioxidant defenses, and membrane fluidity.
- Increased RBC lipid peroxidation, membrane-bound hemoglobin, osmotic fragility, and reticulocyte count were observed, worsening with disease severity.
Conclusions:
- RBCs are fewer in psoriasis patients.
- RBCs exhibit damage and accelerated aging, linked to neutrophil activation and oxidative stress.
- RBC changes correlate with psoriasis severity, suggesting their utility as disease markers.