Determination of the relationship between serum elafin levels and the disease in psoriasis patients, sedimentation and investigation of the correlation between CRP and elafin levels

Aims: The aim of this study is to examine the role of serum elafin levels in psoriasis patients, and to determine the relationship between CRP and sedimentation levels and serum elafin levels. Method: The sample of the study consisted of 40 patients diagnosed with psoriasis in the Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Hospital Dermatology outpatient clinic and 40 healthy individuals with the same characteristics as the patient group. Demographic information, body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure values of all individuals participating in the study were recorded. The psoriasis area severity index (PASI) was calculated in the patient group. Elafin, C-reactive protein (CRP), sedimentation, fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL (high-density lipoprotein and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels were measured in the serum of both study groups. Results: In our study, a statistically significant difference was found between the patient and control groups in terms of serum elafin, HDL and LDL levels. The median serum elafin value in the patient group was 306,44 pg/mL, the median serum elafin value in the control group was 222,33 pg/mL (p=0,028). The median HDL value in the patient group was 47,5 mg/dL, the median HDL value in the control group was 55 mg/dL (p=0,004). The median LDL value in the patient group was 89 mg/dL, the median LDL value in the control group was 80 mg/dL (p<0,001). A strong positive correlation was found between serum elafin level and LDL (p<0,001) and total cholesterol (p<0,001) in the patient group. As a result of the ROC analysis, it was determined that the serum elafin level had a successful performance in the diagnosis of psoriasis patients (p=0,028). Conclusion: A significant difference was found between the patient and control groups in terms of serum elafin, HDL and LDL levels. In conclusion, elafin has an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and we believe that the correct use of these results will be useful in evaluating the progression and severity of the disease and potential future therapeutic lines. Key words: Psoriasis, serum elafin, C-reactive protein, sedimentation, disease severity