title: The effect of topical treatment and psoriasis severity on serum retinol-binding protein-4 levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psoriasis has been considered as chronic systemic disease. Retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) might play a role in psoriasis and its comorbidities. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between serum RBP-4 levels and disease severity, indicators of inflammation or metabolic syndrome and changes after topical treatment in psoriatic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven patients with relapse of plaque-type psoriasis and 16 healthy volunteers were examined. Blood samples were collected before and after 14 days of therapy. Serum RBP-4 concentrations were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for correlation with psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), body mass index (BMI), inflammatory and biochemical markers and with efficacy of topical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RBP-4 serum levels were increased in psoriatics compared to the controls, but without statistical significance (p = 0.2). No significant correlations between investigated adipokine and several indicators of metabolic disorders, nor BMI or PASI were found. A significant negative correlation with CRP was noted. After topical treatment serum RBP-4 level did not significantly change (p = 0.3), despite clinical improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RBP-4 might have a protective role in terms of chronic inflammation and comorbidities of psoriasis. The adipokine is presumably not useful in determining severity and the effectiveness of antipsoriatic treatment.
authors: a Department of Dermatology and Venereology and.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Baran
authors: b Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology , Medical University of Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Swiderska
authors: a Department of Dermatology and Venereology and.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Flisiak
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; C101326:RBP4 protein, human; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma
keywords: Adipokines; anthralin; psoriasis; retinol-binding protein-4; topical treatment