title: Serum vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor β1, and nitric oxide levels in patients with psoriasis vulgaris: their correlation to disease severity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and nitric oxide (NO) have been reported to be contributory factors to the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the association between the levels of VEGF, TGF-β1, and NO and psoriasis severity (as expressed by psoriasis area severity index, PASI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight patients with psoriasis vulgaris and twenty-two controls were included in the study. The serum levels of VEGF and TGF-β1 were estimated by ELISA technique. The serum levels of NO were determined by colorimetric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum levels of VEGF, TGF-β1, and NO were significantly higher in patients than controls. Moreover, the serum levels of the studied biochemical variables in patients with severe disease activity were significantly higher than mild cases. The duration of disease showed significant positive correlations with each VEGF (r = 0.35, P < 0.01) and TGF-β1 (r = 0.41, P < 0.05). In addition, the PASI score was significantly positively correlated with VEGF (r = 0.65, P < 0.001), TGF-β1 (r = 0.31, P < 0.05), and NO (r = 0.51, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest an association between psoriasis disease severity and serum levels of VEGF, TGF-β1, and NO, which can be recognized as markers of the psoriasis severity. The modulation of their production may represent a therapeutic potential strategy for psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Almlaida, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdel-Raheim M A
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Meki
authors.forename: Hani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Shobaili
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: NO; TGF-β1; VEGF; patients; psoriasis vulgaris