Selenium in whole blood and plasma is decreased in patients with moderate and severe psoriasis

Concentrations of selenium in whole blood and plasma in 113 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis were compared with those in 104 healthy reference subjects. Most of the patients (85%) had had their psoriasis for at least 10 years and all had previously been treated with PUVA baths. Selenium concentrations both in whole blood and plasma were decreased both in male and female psoriasis patients. Male psoriatics 20-49 years old and women with disease of long duration (greater than 20 years) had particularly low selenium concentrations in whole blood. The lowest whole blood values were found in a subgroup of male patients with widespread disease of long duration who had also required treatment with methotrexate and/or retinoids to control their disease. The blood selenium in patients who also had psoriatic arthritis or arthralgia did not differ from those without such symptoms.