SERUM URIC ACID LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder often associated with systemic
comorbidities. Recent studies have suggested a link between psoriasis and elevated
serum uric acid levels, potentially due to increased keratinocyte turnover and
systemic inflammation. This hospital-based case-control study aimed to assess serum
uric acid levels in psoriasis patients and compare them with healthy controls. 40
clinically and/or histo-pathologically diagnosed psoriasis patients and 40 age- and
gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Serum uric acid was measured using
the Uricase method, and disease severity in psoriasis cases was assessed using the
Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). The mean serum uric acid level in psoriasis
cases was 5.1 ± 1.5 mg/dL, significantly higher than 4.0 ± 0.5 mg/dL in controls (p =
0.0001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in serum uric acid
levels between patients with mild (PASI <10) and moderate-to-severe psoriasis
(PASI >10), with a p-value of 0.9323. These findings suggest that while serum uric
acid levels are elevated in psoriasis patients, they do not correlate with clinical
disease severity. The consistent elevation of serum uric acid in psoriasis may indicate
a potential role in the systemic inflammatory profile of the disease, independent of
PASI score. Monitoring serum uric acid could be beneficial for identifying metabolic
risks in psoriasis patients.