title: Evaluation of plasma vitamin A and E levels and tear film changes in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether alterations in plasma vitamin A and E levels in patients with psoriasis have an effect on tear film changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two eyes of 31 patients with psoriasis vulgaris (Group A) and 74 eyes of 37 age- and gender-matched control subjects (Group B) were included in the study. Ocular and medical histories and dietary habits were obtained from each patient. The tear film break-up time (TBUT), the Schirmer 1 test results and plasma vitamin A and E levels were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean Schirmer 1 test score was 14.76 ± 6.12 mm/5 min in Group A and 15.69 ± 3.10 mm/5 min in Group B. The mean plasma levels of vitamins A and E in Groups A and B were 1.86 ± 0.62 µmol/L and 1.88 ± 0.65 µmol/L vs. 26.21 ± 5.13 µmol/L and 27.19 ± 8.89 µmol/L, respectively. The Schirmer 1 test results and plasma vitamin A and E levels were not found to be significantly different between the groups (p > 0.05). The mean TBUT was 9.94 ± 6.18 seconds in Group A and 14.47 ± 5.65 seconds in Group B, a significant difference (p < 0.05). No correlation existed between plasma vitamin A and E levels, TBUT or the severity and duration of the disease (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma vitamin A and E levels do not seem to be related to tear film changes in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey. helindeniz@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Helin Deniz
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Erdinç
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sezer
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yardım
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009077:Mucins; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E
keywords: Ophthalmological diagnostic techniques; Psoriasis; Vitamin A; Vitamin E