Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with psoriasis may have an increased risk of a variety of noncutaneous diseases, including arterial and venous occlusive diseases. Changes in plasma lipid and lipoprotein composition in patients with psoriasis may be the reason for the increased risk of atherosclerosis in these patients. Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) is a genetically determined lipoprotein associated with an increased prevalence of atherosclerotic and thrombotic cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the lipid profile and to define the significance of Lp(a) levels in men with psoriasis. The other purpose was to learn whether a correlation exists between psoriasis area and severity index score and serum Lp(a) or other lipids.

Methods: Serum Lp(a) levels were measured with a commercially available noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 32 men with psoriasis and in 13 healthy men. Total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, apolipopro-tein A-I and apolipoprotein B levels, and atherosclerotic risk factors other than hyperlipidemia were determined. Secondary hyperlipidemia from various diseases and drugs was ruled out in both groups.

Results: Serum Lp(a) levels were higher in men with psoriasis than in healthy male subjects, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.063). Serum fasting glucose levels were also found to be higher in the psoriasis group (p < 0.05). Higher serum Lp(a) and fasting glucose levels tended to occur in patients with extensive and severe skin involvement. No statistical differences were observed in the total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, apolipoprotein A-I, and apolipoprotein B levels between the two groups p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the increased Lp(a) level might be a factor involved in occlusive vascular disorders in patients with psoriasis and that patients with extensive and severe skin involvement are more predisposed to relatively high Lp(a) levels.