We characterized inflammatory and atherogenic profiles of Spanish patients with psoriasis compared with matched controls. After NB-UVB therapy we demonstrated improvement in psoriasis and some systemic inflammation markers, which were not mediated by enhancement of vitamin D synthesis.

Psoriasis has been related to metabolic syndrome (MS). Adipocytokines produced by white adipose tissue may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and its association with MS. Our objectives were to characterize the profile of a number of different inflammatory and atherogenic markers, vitamins, adipokines and cytokines and their potential involvement in MS in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis without joint involvement compared to anthropometrically matched controls, and to evaluate correlation with severity of the skin disease and changes after narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy. We designed a prospective cross-sectional study. Baseline waist circumference, body fat composition, lipid, carbohydrate and calcium metabolism profile, inflammation markers, homocysteine and vitamins D, B6, B12 and folic acid, leptin, resistin, omentin, lipocalin-2, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein, retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4), interleukin-6, soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1) and interleukin-17 of 50 psoriasis patients and 50 gender, age and body mass index-matched controls were recorded, then evaluated after NB-UVB in the patients. The patients had higher baseline serum concentrations of leptin, RBP-4, lipocalin-2 and sTNFR1. Baseline psoriasis area and severity index correlated with serum concentrations of RBP-4 and lipocalin-2 only. Principal components analysis disclosed a component including vitamins B12, B6, folic acid, calcidiol and HDL-cholesterol that was only present in healthy controls and opposed to a cluster of variables which promote MS. This component was absent in the patients. Our results point to lipocalin-2 and RBP-4 as relevant mediators of the trend towards MS in psoriatic patients.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease which has an estimated prevalence of 1%. It is characterized by the formation of recurrent painful suppurative nodules and abscesses in the flexural areas of the body. It is believed that its pathogenesis involves an aberrant, genetically-determined activation of innate immunity against the bacterial commensal flora of intertriginous areas. It has been found that the formation of antibiotic-resistant bacterial biofilms is a common finding in hidradenitis lesions. Photodynamic therapy with different compounds and light sources has demonstrated its efficacy in a number of infectious diseases such as nail mycosis and chronic periodontitis. We retrospectively report our experience in the treatment of hidradenitis with photodynamic therapy using intralesional methylene blue and a 635 nm light-emitting diode lamp in 7 patients. Two patients received one session whereas 5 patients received two sessions. At one month follow-up good response was achieved in 6 patients. After 6 months, 5 patients (71%) maintained remission of the disease in the treated area. In view of the results and literature review, we regard methylene blue as an ideal photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy in this disease.