Investigation of erythrocyte membrane omega-6/omega-3 ratio and its relationship with disease activity in patients with psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disorder that hasbeen associated with oxidative stress, abnormal plasma lipid metabolism and with high frequency of cardiovascular events. Increment of eicosanoid metabolites derivate from arachidonic acid (AA) which is an omega-6 (?-6) fatty acid may play an important role of inflammation observed in psoriasis. Omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio taken by diet was considered to have significant influence on inflammatory diseases. It was observed that ?-6/?-3 fatty acids ratio placed in cell membrane was found to be changed in favorof ?-3 fatty acids when the amount of ?-3 fatty acids consumption was increased.Therefore, eikosanoid metabolites derivate from ?-3 fatty acids show low inflammatory effects in the inflammation. In view of these data, it was aimed to find out ?-6/?-3 fatty acid ratio in the erythrocyte membrane in patients with psoriasis and its relationship with the disease activity. Study group was consisted of 30 patients with psoriasis and 36 healthy controls. Analyses of fatty acids in the erythrocyte membrane were performed by using gas chromatography and flame ionisation detector. Also lipid profiles and inflammation parameters of the sample were analyzed. ?-6/?-3 fatty acid ratio was found to be significantly higher in patients with psoriasis compared to healthy control group (p<0.05). There is no significant correlation between the ratio and PASI score(p>0.05). High density lipoprotein cholestrol (HDL-C) level was found to be decreased while triglyceride (TG), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESH) levels were increased (p<0.05). It was concluded that increased ?-6/?-3 fatty acid ratio observed in patient with psoriasis may play an important role in inflammatory process of the disease. Key Words: C-reactive protein, Erythrocyte membrane ratio of ?-6/?-3 fatty acids, Inflammation, PASI Score, Psoriasis