Abstract
Background: Chitotriosidase (ChT) is an enzyme secreted by
activated macrophages and neutrophils, in response to proinflammatory
signals. There is growing evidence indicating that ChT activity reflects
systemic inflammatory status. In this study, we aimed to investigate
whether serum ChT activity is increased in patients with psoriasis and
related comorbidities.
Materials and Methods: This study included patients with
psoriasis and healthy volunteers. All subjects underwent a laboratory
investigation including serum ChT levels, complete blood count,
erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and serum lipid
levels.
Results: 25 patients without comorbidity, 28 patients with
comorbidity, and 52 healthy subjects were enrolled. The patients group
showed statistically significant higher levels of ChT activity (23.5 ±
11.4 μmol / ml / h) compared to the healthy controls (17.5 ± 10.4/ μmol
/ ml / h) (p=0.015). ChT activity was also statistically significant
higher in patients with comorbidity compared to patients without
comorbidity (p = 0.042).
Conclusions: Our data support the pathogenetic role of
inflammatory processes induced by macrophage activation in psoriasis and
related comorbidities. We believe that high ChT activity in patients
with psoriasis may serve as a clue for the early prediction of possible
related comorbidities.
Keywords : Chitotriosidase, comorbidity, macrophage, psoriasis.