Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory immune mediated multifactorial disorder affecting the skinwhich is increasingly recognized as a systemic inflammatory disease. Psoriasis affects approximately about 2%‐3% of the population worldwide.
Psoriatic arthritis is one of the frequent complications of psoriasis that may affect 30% of psoriatic patients, it is a musculoskeletal inflammatory disorder affecting axial and peripheral joints with extra-articular manifestations.
Early diagnosis and recognition of psoriatic arthritis and its management will improve the quality of life and decrease complications. Detection of serum biomarker for psoriatic arthritis may help in early diagnose.
Matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) is a zinc dependent endopeptidase also known as Stromelysin-1. It plays a role in degradation of extracellular matrix, tissue remodling and also in diseases processes. Matrix metalloproteinase 3 serum level increases in rheumatic disease and other non-rheumatic diseases as systemic lupus and glomerulonephritis respectively. It has been used as a synovial marker for joint inflammation and tissue destruction.
The aim of this study was to compare the serum level of matrix metalloproteinase 3 in psoriasis patients with and without psoriatic arthritis and to detect its correlation with disease severity.