Lowered cutaneous and urinary levels of polyamines with clinical improvement in treated psoriasis

Polyamine metabolism is important in cell proliferation and may play a role in the epidermal cell hyperproliferation of psoriasis. We have determined changes in polyamine levels in skin and urine accompanying clinical improvement in psoriasis following topical therapy. Nine hospitalized patients were examined at the beginning and end of their courses of treatment. Skin biopsy specimens and portions of 24-hour urine collections were analyzed for polyamines with a modified automatic amino acid analyzer. Treatment resulted in lower cutaneous levels of putrescine (by 50%, P less than .05), spermidine (by 24%, P less than .05), and spermine (by 35%, P less than .005), and lower urinary levels of spermidine (by 20%, P less than .025) and spermine (by 35%, P less than .025). These results suggest that in psoriasis, the skin significantly contributes to the levels of spermidine and spermine in systemic fluids. Topical therapy may reduce epidermal cell proliferation in psoriasis by lowering polyamine levels.