Implications of narrowband ultraviolet B treatment on psoriasis severity and serum levels of angiopoietin-2: A cross-sectional controlled study.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory hyper proliferative skin disease. Angiogenesis play an important role in Psoriasis pathogenesis, occurring even before plaque formation. Angiopoietins play an important role in angiogenesis and hence are described as angiogenic factors.

Aims: To evaluate serum levels of angiopoeitin 2 (Ang-2) following treatment with narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) in patients with moderate-severe plaque psoriasis and correlate it to psoriasis area and severity index (PASI).

Patients/methods: This cross sectional study included 38 patients complaining of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and 38 healthy controls. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) was determined and was correlated to serum levels of Ang-2 before and after treatment with NBUVB.

Results: PASI scores and serum values of angiopoietin 2 demonstrated a significant difference between the baseline and at the end of the 12 weeks NBUVB treatment. A statistically significant positive correlation was established between psoriasis severity and Ang-2 serum levels before and after treatment.

Conclusion: The study demonstrated a potential contribution of Ang-2 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, as well as its usefulness as a biomarker of psoriasis severity.