Factors associated with increased aqueous flare in psoriasis.

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in aqueous flare in psoriasis patients and to identify the factors that influence the level of aqueous flare.

Methods: We examined the 68 eyes of 34 psoriasis patients and the 68 eyes of 34 healthy subjects with a laser flare-cell meter. Complete dermatologic and ophthalmic examinations were performed on the psoriasis patients.

Results: Flare was significantly higher in psoriasis patients than in normal controls (P <.000l). The factors that increased flare significantly were age and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. Flare was not significantly associated with sex, psoriasis type, duration of disease, and cyclosporin therapy. A flare increase was significantly correlated with serum total protein and immunoglobulin (Ig) A, but not with albumin, IgG, and IgM.

Conclusions: Psoriasis patients, even without ocular symptoms, had slight damage to the blood-aqueous barrier. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that flare had the strongest correlation with the severity of psoriasis.