[Alpha 1-fetoprotein--a marker of potential PUVA side-effects in psoriasis?]

Serum concentrations of alpha 1-fetoprotein (AFP) during PUVA treatment have been analyzed in 12 patients suffering from severe psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. The results have been compared with AFP levels in psoriatics without PUVA treatment (group II), patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with methotrexate (group III), as well as dermatological patients without psoriasis (group IV). All groups revealed AFP levels below 25 ng/ml. Although a slight raise of AFP could be observed during PUVA therapy (p less than 0.005), we assume that AFP detection cannot be regarded as a marker of potential PUVA side-effects in psoriasis.