Effect of Narrow Band Ultraviolet B Therapy versus Methotrexate on Serum Levels of Interleukin-17 and Interleukin-23 in Egyptian Patients with Severe Psoriasis.
Background. There is raised interest in the involvement of interleukin-(IL-)23/T-helper 17 cells (Th17) axis in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Objectives. To compare the effect of narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) and methotrexate (MTX) therapy on serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in psoriatic patients. Methods. Thirty patients with severe plaque psoriasis were included: 15 patients received NB-UVB three times weekly (group I) and 15 patients received MTX 0.3 mg/kg per week (group II), both for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 were investigated by ELISA technique and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) was calculated. Results. After treatment, all patients showed a reduction in their PASI score, IL-17 and IL-23 serum levels with a nonsignificant difference between both therapeutic modalities (P value >0.05). A positive correlation was detected between the percent of reduction of IL-17, IL-23 and the percent of reduction of PASI score for patients receiving both treatments. No correlation was found between the percent of reduction of IL-17, IL-23 and duration of disease or age of all patients in this study. Conclusion. Interleukin-17 and IL-23 serum level may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting the prognosis and therapeutic response of NB-UVB or MTX in treating psoriasis.
Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Andrology, Ain Shams University, Abassya Square, Cairo 11566, Egypt.
Tarek Mahmoud
TM
Elghandour
Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Andrology, Ain Shams University, Abassya Square, Cairo 11566, Egypt.
Sahar El Sayed
Sel S
Youssef
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, National Research Center, El-Bhoos Street, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt.
Dalia Gamal
DG
Aly
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, National Research Center, El-Bhoos Street, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt.
Mohamed Said
MS
Abd Elhameed
Department of Medical Biochemistry, National Research Center, El-Bhoos Street, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt.
Mehrevan Mostafa
MM
Abdel Moneim