title: The influence of treatment on fibrin microclot generation in psoriasis.
abstract: The in vitro formation of fibrin microclots in blood from patients with psoriasis was studied before, during and after treatment. When a bacterial lipopolysaccharide was added to the blood, the microclot test was positive in 0% of controls, in 17% of the patients with untreated slight psoriasis and in 100% of those with severe psoriasis. A positive test without added lipopolysaccharide indicates the presence of circulating endotoxins. It was negative in all patients with slight psoriasis but positive in 75% of those with a severe form. During treatment the microclots decreased concurrently with clinical improvement in 79% of the patients. After treatment, eleven patients still had a positive test and nine of these patients showed a relapse within 1-2 months. Warfarin treatment rapidly inhibited microclot formation but this had little or no effect on the psoriatic lesions. High doses of potent corticosteroids under occlusion inhibited microclot formation for some hours. It seems likely that there may be a release of endotoxins in severe psoriasis which is decreased during successful treatment.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005337:Fibrin; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D005337:Fibrin