title: Study on the levels of trace elements in mild and severe psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent skin disorder characterized histologically by cutaneous inflammation, increased epidermal proliferation, hyperkeratosis, angiogenesis, abnormal keratinization, shortened maturation time and parakeratosis. Data on the involvement of trace elements in the pathogenesis of psoriasis is limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  The elements namely Na, K, Ca, P, S, Mg, Cu, Zn, and Fe were analyzed in the serum samples of mild and severe psoriasis patients with a control group using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Patients were assessed as per standard clinical diagnostic criteria and classified into mild and severe psoriasis groups using Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In mild psoriasis, the levels of K, P, Cu, and Mg were increased significantly (p<0.001), while in severe psoriasis P, Mg, and Cu were increased significantly (p<0.001). The S and Fe concentrations were decreased significantly (p<0.001) in both mild and severe psoriasis types when compared to control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a disturbance in the under-study element contents and also element-element interdependency in psoriasis serum when compared to controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, JSS Medical College, Mysore-570 015, India. basavarajkh@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Basavaraj
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Darshan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shanmugavelu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rashmi
authors.forename: A Yuti
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Mhatre
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Dhanabal
authors.forename: K S J
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements