Serum retinol-binding protein: a novel biomarker for recalcitrant cutaneous warts.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous viral warts are benign epidermal proliferations caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Despite treatment, a significant proportion of warts fail to resolve, becoming recalcitrant. Vitamin A (retinol) may disrupt the interplay of HPV replication and epithelial cell differentiation, allowing normal tissue to replace warts. Circulating retinol-binding protein (RBP) concentrations highly correlate with retinol levels. AIM: We aimed at evaluation of serum RBP level in patients with recalcitrant cutaneous warts in order to assess its correlation with disease pathogenesis. METHODS: Serum RBP level was measured by an ELISA technique in 50 patients with recalcitrant cutaneous warts and 30 apparently healthy controls. RESULTS: Serum RBP level was significantly lower in patients with recalcitrant warts than the control group (P < 0.001). However, it did not differ regarding different clinical parameters in studied patients (P > 0.05 each). RBP is a reliable biomarker for significant early detection and discrimination between patients and healthy controls (P < 0.001) at a cutoff value ≤1034.6 µg/ml, with sensitivity and specificity (100% each). CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that low serum RBP as a relatively cheap biomarker with high specificity and sensitivity is a reliable indicator of vitamin A (retinol) deficiency that may play a role in the pathogenesis of recalcitrant cutaneous warts among our studied patients.

Sex hormones, erectile dysfunction, and psoriasis; a bad friendship!

BACKGROUND: Sex hormones may play a major role in psoriasis pathogenesis due to their biological and immunological effects on skin. Psoriasis also has a significant impact on patients' sexual function and thus their quality of life. AIM: In the present study, we investigated serum sex hormones and erectile function in male psoriasis patients compared with healthy controls and correlated these findings with various disease parameters. METHODS: Serum total testosterone and estradiol were measured by an ELISA technique in 50 male patients with psoriasis and 30 healthy controls. The erectile function of all subjects was assessed by the international index of erectile function version-5. RESULTS: Patients with psoriasis showed a significant lower serum level of total testosterone, higher level of estradiol, and impaired erectile function relative to healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The detected hormonal disturbance in male psoriasis patients may be a cause of the associated erectile dysfunction beside the known effect of chronic systemic disease on patients' erectile function.