Hyperhomocysteinaemia might account for the increased susceptibility to CV diseases in psoriasis patients. Homocysteine metabolism is dependent in part on folate and vitamin B12 so deficiency of these vitamins may lead to hyperhomocysteinaemia.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 levels and psoriasis vulgaris and to evaluate the correlation between homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 levels and the severity of psoriasis vulgaris.
Patients and methods: This case control study included 80 subjects who were distributed into two groups; Cases group (Group A): included 50 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis vulgaris, and Control group (Group B): included 30 non psoriatic healthy, age and sex matched, subjects.
Results: The mean folic acid level in the psoriasis group was 3.69 (SD 0.96) nmol/l which was statistically significantly lower as compared with the control group (5.67 ± 1.31 nmol/l) (p < 0.001). The mean vitamin B12 level in the psoriasis group was 186.94 (SD 64.90) pmol/l which was statistically significantly lower as compared with the control group (353.73 ± 76.76 pmol/l) (p < 0.001). The mean homocysteine level in the psoriasis group was 18.54 (SD 4.18) nmol/mL which was statistically significantly higher as compared with the control group (11.09 ± 1.78 nmol/mL) (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: hyperhomocysteinaemia, decreased serum folate levels, and decreased serum B12 levels are common in patients with psoriasis. Serum homocysteine level was negatively correlated with serum folate level. No significant correlation was found between psoriasis severity (as measured by psoriasis area and severity index) and serum levels of homocysteine, folic acid, or vitamin B12.