title: Effect of psoriasis activity and topical treatment on serum lipocalin-2 levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psoriasis has been considered as systemic disorder. Lipocalin-2 might be a link between psoriasis and its comorbidities. Aim of the study was to investigate the associations between serum lipocalin-2 levels and the disease activity, markers of inflammation or metabolic disturbances and changes after topical treatment in psoriatic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven individuals with active plaque-type psoriasis and 15 healthy controls were recruited. Blood samples were collected before and after 14 days of therapy. Serum lipocalin-2 concentrations were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were correlated with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), body mass index (BMI), inflammatory and biochemical markers, lipid profile and with effectiveness of topical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lipocalin-2 serum levels were significantly increased in psoriatic patients in comparison to the controls (p = 0.023). No significant correlations with indicators of inflammation, nor BMI or PASI were noted. A statistical association between lipocalin-2 and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was shown. After topical treatment serum lipocalin-2 level did not significantly change (p = 0.9), still remaining higher than in the controls, despite clinical improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lipocalin-2 might be a marker of psoriasis and convey cardiovascular or metabolic risk in psoriatic patients, but may not be a reliable indicator of inflammation, severity of psoriasis nor efficacy of antipsoriatic treatment.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology and Venereology , Medical University of Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.affiliation: b Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology , Medical University of Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Świderska
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology and Venereology , Medical University of Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Myśliwiec
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology and Venereology , Medical University of Bialystok , Bialystok , Poland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: 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 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D000071068:Lipocalin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2
keywords: Psoriasis; adipokines; anthralin; lipocalin-2; topical treatment