High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Level and Psoriasis Severity in Thai Patients
Rawipan Uaratanawong MD*, Somchai Uaratanawong MD**, Chakkrapong Chunhasewee MD*, Prapawan Chawvavanich MD*
Affiliation : * Institute of Dermatology, Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health, Bangkok, Thailand ** Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Psoriasis vulgaris severity have been widely assessed by psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score. However,
it may not be not the best measure because of the high variability and inability to tell the other aspect of the disease including
co-morbidity and cardiovascular risk.
Objective : To determine the correlation between high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level and psoriasis severity
and to determine co-morbidities of psoriasis patients.
Material and Method: One hundred eighty psoriasis patients and thirty control patients were enrolled in the present
cross-sectional study. Fasting venous blood were collected and analyzed for fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, lipid
profile, and hs-CRP. The psoriasis patients were assessed for skin severity by PASI scoring. The correlation was assessed
by regression analysis.
Results : The hs-CRP level was found significantly higher in the psoriasis group (p-value <0.001). The hs-CRP level
significantly correlated with PASI score by using multivariate regression analysis.
Conclusion : This correlation between hs-CRP level and the psoriasis severity has led to the proposition that hs-CRP be
used as a biomarker for overall inflammation including skin severity and cardiovascular risk factor in psoriasis.
Keywords : Psoriasis vulgaris, Severity score, PASI score, hs-CRP, High sensitivity C-reactive protein
