MINERAL BONE DENSITY AND VITAMIN D LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Rheumatology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition.
• Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a common complication of psoriasis, affecting joints.
• Bone metabolism disturbances are increasingly recognized in psoriasis and PsA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare bone mass density (BMD) and bone metabolism markers between patients with psoriasis and PsA versus patients with psoriasis only (PV).
• To investigate the relationship between vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), inflammatory markers, and BMD in these patient groups.

Main Methods:

• Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess BMD in the axial and appendicular skeleton.
• Serum levels of vitamin D, PTH, and inflammatory markers were measured in all participants.
• A comparative analysis was performed between patients with PsA and patients with PV.

Main Results:

• Patients with PsA showed a trend towards decreased BMD in the axial skeleton compared to PV patients.
• BMD in the appendicular skeleton was comparable between the PsA and PV groups.
• No significant correlation was found between inflammatory markers, vitamin D, or PTH levels and BMD in either group.
• A negative correlation was observed between serum vitamin D concentration and PTH levels.

Conclusions:

• Psoriatic arthritis may be associated with reduced axial bone density, warranting further investigation.
• Current markers of bone metabolism (vitamin D, PTH, inflammation) did not directly correlate with BMD in this cohort.
• The inverse relationship between vitamin D and PTH suggests a potential interplay in bone health regulation in these patients.