title: Measurement of vitamin D and cathelicidin (LL-37) levels in patients of psoriasis with co-morbidities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the last decade, a lot of co-morbidities (diabetes, obesity, heart disease, etc.) have been described to be associated with psoriasis, but the exact link at the molecular level is not well-known. Researchers have shown molecular level changes in vitamin D pathway and its relationship to cathelicidin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the levels of cathelicidin (LL-37), and vitamin D in psoriasis patients with co-morbidities, and compare them with matched healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred consecutive patients with stable plaque psoriasis (psoriasis area and severity index ≥10) with no systemic treatment in the past 3 months were investigated for the serum levels of vitamin D and LL-37, and compared with equal number of matched healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients. Furthermore, the levels of serum LL-37 were significantly high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that the low serum levels of vitamin D, and higher blood levels of cathelicidin could form a molecular level clue in the pathogenesis of psoriasis patients, who are more likely to develop co-morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Nawaf
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Mutairi
authors.forename: Bayoumi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: El Eassa
authors.forename: Vasanthy
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D; D054804:Cathelicidins