White adipose tissue is known to be involved in numerous physiological processes such as insulin-mediated functions, lipid and glucose metabolism, vascular changes and coagulation. These processes are mainly mediated by adipokines that are secreted either from adipocytes or cells of the stromalvascular fraction of adipose tissue. In obesity, a shift in the production of adipokines can mediate the development of associated diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, and vascular complications, such as artherosclerosis, myocardial infarction or stroke, which are known comorbidities of psoriasis too. As obesity is a frequently seen comorbidity in psoriasis patients, adipokines could be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and ⁄ or its comorbidities either dependently or independently from obesity. Therefore, this study investigates the levels of four major adipokines in psoriasis patients compared with a control group of healthy volunteers without chronic inflammatory diseases in relation to body composition. Leptin, adiponectin (high molecular weight (HMW) and total adiponectin), visfatin and retinolbinding protein 4 (RBP4) have been analysed in 79 psoriasis patients and in 80 healthy volunteers. It was shown that HMW adiponectin (OR 1.3755; P = 0.0094) and visfatin (OR 1.1267; P = 0.0472) are independently increased, and RBP4 (OR 0.9884; P < 0.0001) is independently decreased in psoriasis. In conclusion, increased levels of HMW adiponectin and decreased levels of RBP4 could be a mechanism in a chronic inflammatory state that helps to protect against vascular and metabolic disorders, whereas the increase of the pro-inflammatory adipokine visfatin could lead to atherosclerosis and vascular disorders found in psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease of the skin with associated comorbidity. Severe forms of psoriasis are associated with increased mortality, which might be due to cardiovascular (CV) comorbidity. In this study, we investigated in 79 patients with psoriasis compared to 80 healthy volunteers different biomarkers that play a role in vascular disease and inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), human soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), human matrix Gla protein (MGP) and fetuin-A. Our results showed that CRP (P < 0.0001), sCD40L (P < 0.0001) and MGP (P < 0.0001) were increased in the patient cohort. Fetuin-A showed decreased serum levels in patients with psoriasis (P < 0.0001), whereas ox-LDL did not show any significant difference. In multivariate analyses controlling for sex, age and BMI, these findings were confirmed. Thus, CV biomarkers are altered in patients with psoriasis. If the decrease in fetuin-A as well as the increase in sCD40L can be proven in further studies, these biomarkers may help to characterize a subgroup of patients who are at risk to develop CVD and/or monitor the effect of therapeutic antipsoriatic strategies on concomitant diseases. This knowledge may be useful in the management of high-need patients with psoriasis.

National insurance companies in Germany support health cures for patients with malignant tumors (malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell tumor, malignant cutaneous lymphoma). The clinical requirements are an invasively growing tumor, problems of self-assurance, and dis-integration of the patient regarding his social and/or professional environment. The decision for a health cure is made by the treating dermatologist in the hospital. In this context, the following sociomedical criteria should be applied: impairment, disability, and handicap. Usually, rehabilitation starts after the patient is discharged from the hospital. The inpatient rehabilitation program should be performed at an institution capable of providing dermatological and psychological treatment. The dermatologist acts as a manager for the members of the rehabilitation team (psychologists, physiotherapists, social workers, and ergo-therapists). In conclusion, dermato-oncologic rehabilitation plays an important role in re-integrating the patient into his professional life to avoid retirement.

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