title: Discrepant levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in psoriasis patients treated with PUVA, Re-PUVA and narrow-band UVB.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous reports showed that serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are increased in patients with psoriasis. However, to our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the effects of PUVA, Re-PUVA and narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) treatments on serum levels of VEGF in patients with psoriasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of PUVA, Re-PUVA and NB-UVB treatments on angiogenic activities in patients with psoriasis by comparing serum levels of VEGF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients with psoriasis and 20 healthy subjects were included in the study. Peripheral blood samples were collected before, during and after the therapies. The efficacy of PUVA, Re-PUVA and NB-UVB was delineated by the psoriasis area and severity index. A repeated measure of ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U-test, chi(2) and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VEGF levels were significantly decreased in the PUVA group at the end of the follow-up period (P<0.001). However, the levels were significantly increased in the groups of NB-UVB and Re-PUVA (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that there was a discrepancy during the PUVA, Re-PUVA and NB-UVB treatments. We believe that VEGF plasma levels could not be a useful monitor of psoriasis activity and/or treatment response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akman
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dicle
authors.forename: Fikriye
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Ertan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000379:methods; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012176:Retinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D012176:Retinoids; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors