Feroz Khan, Naeem S M, Zahor Ahmad, Nudrat Anwer Zuberi.
Association of serum levels of zinc and copper with degree of severity in patients with psoriasis.
J Saidu Med Col Jan ;7(2):72-4.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a constant, recurrent, immune related, provocative skin disease. It is non-contagious disorder prominent towards socioeconomic burden on the health care system. Psoriasis affects nearly 2% population of the world. Copper and Zinc are co-factors having role in skin diseases like psoriasis. Some of the trace elements have been related with diagnostic role but studies are limited in scope. OBJECTIVES: The present study was aimed to correlate serum levels of Zinc and Copper in psoriatic patients with degree of severity and compare with normal healthy individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The planned study was uni-centric and hospital based consisting of 120 diagnosed cases of psoriasis, grouped as mild, moderate and severe. Forty (n=40) age and sex matched healthy individuals who served as controls for comparison were included in the study. Serum zinc and copper levels were determined by enzymatic colorimetric method (Merck & Germany) and statistical comparison was done by one way ANOVA on SPSS version 16.Value was considered as significant with p< 0.05. RESULTS: Results of present study showed significant decrease in the mean+SD serum level of zinc in mild, moderate and severe psoriasis groups respectively. While increased serum levels of copper were observed in mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis groups respectively when compared with controls. CONCLUSION: From the present study outcome it is conclude that increased levels of copper and decreased levels of zinc may be involved to play a key role in psoriasis severity/pathogenesis.

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