High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Level and Psoriasis Severity in Thai Patients.

Background: Psoriasis vulgaris severity have been widely assessed by psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score. However, it may not be not the best measure because of the high variability and inability to tell the other aspect of the disease including co-morbidity and cardiovascular risk. Objective: To determine the correlation between high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level and psoriasis severity and to determine co-morbidities of psoriasis patients. Material and Method: One hundred eighty psoriasis patients and thirty control patients were enrolled in the present cross-sectional study. Fasting venous blood were collected and analyzed for fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, lipid profile, and hs-CRP. The psoriasis patients were assessed for skin severity by PASI scoring. The correlation was assessed by regression analysis. Results: The hs-CRP level was found significantly higher in the psoriasis group (p-value <0.001). The hs-CRP level significantly correlated with PASI score by using multivariate regression analysis. Conclusion: This correlation between hs-CRP level and the psoriasis severity has led to the proposition that hs-CRP be used as a biomarker for overall inflammation including skin severity and cardiovascular risk factor in psoriasis.

Epidermal permeability barrier in the treatment of keratosis pilaris.

Objectives. To evaluate and compare the efficacy, safety, hydrating properties, and tolerability of 10% lactic acid (LA) and 5% salicylic acid (SA) in the therapy of keratosis pilaris (KP). Material and Method. Patients with KP were randomized for treatment with either 10% LA or 5% SA creams being applied twice daily for 3 months. The patients were clinically assessed at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. The functional properties of the stratum corneum (SC) were determined before treatment, 12 weeks, and follow-up phase by high-frequency conductance and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Results. At the end of the trial, the mean reduction of the lesions from baseline was statistically significant for 10% LA (66%) and 5% SA (52%). During the treatment, higher conductance values were found on both group and this improvement was maintained until the follow up period. No significant differences in transepidermal water loss were observed after treatment. The adverse effects were limited to mild irritation localized on the skin without systemic side effect. Conclusion. The study demonstrated that 10% LA and 5% SA are beneficial to treat KP with the significantly clearance and marked improvement as by instrumental evaluation.

Co-existence of porokeratosis variants concurrent with Bowen's disease: two rare cases report.

Coexisting variants of porokeratosis rarely occurs. Disseminated superficial porokeratosis (DSP) is characterized by multiple uniform small annular papules distributed all over body. DSP commonly coexist with linear porokeratosis (LP), but it is uncommon for DSP to coexist with porokeratosis of Mibelli (PM). PM presents with central atrophic erythematous plaques and thread-like elevated border. It occurs mainly on extremities. Although malignant transformation can be found in the porokeratosis, there is still no report case of coexisting variants of porokeratosis concurrent with Bowen's disease. The clinical and histopathologic finding of rare coexisting variants of porokeratosis (PM and DSP) concurrent with squamous dysplasia is described.