title: Vascular endothelial function assessed by a noninvasive ultrasound method and serum asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations in mild-to-moderate plaque-type psoriatic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to evaluate vascular endothelial function assessed by serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentrations and noninvasive ultrasonographic parameters such as flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and nitroglycerin-induced dilatation (NID) in mild-to-moderate plaque-type psoriatic patients, as rated by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plaque-type psoriatic patients (n = 29) diagnosed with clinical and/or histopathological findings and control subjects (n = 25) without skin and systemic metabolic diseases were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference between patients and control subjects in respect to FMD (p = 0.441), NID (p = 0.557), or serum ADMA concentrations (p = 0.225). Also, among the acute-phase reactants, serum C-reactive protein and plasma fibrinogen levels were moderately higher in patients when compared to control subjects (p = 0.008 and p = 0.011, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mild-to-moderate plaque-type psoriatic patients with low-to-medium grade systemic inflammation did not have evidence of vascular endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health Sivas Numune Hospital, Department of Medical Biochemistry, 58040 Sivas, Turkey. Electronic address: muratxusta@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Usta
authors.affiliation: Sisli Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital, Department of Cardiology, 34387 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yurdakul
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, Department of Medical Biochemistry, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hale
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aral
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health Batman Regional Government Hospital, Department of Dermatology, 72070, Batman, Turkey.
authors.forename: Enver
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.affiliation: Istanbul Mehmet Akif Ersoy Heart and Vascular Surgery Research and Training Hospital, Department of Cardiology, 34303 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ender
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, Department of Medical Biochemistry, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berrin Bercik
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Inal
authors.affiliation: Marmara University Medical Faculty, Department of Rheumatology, 34668 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma Alibaz
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, Department of Dermatology, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Salih
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gurel
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, Department of Medical Biochemistry, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Guvenc
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guvenen
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D001120:Arginine