Abstract

Background: Psoriatic erythroderma may occur in relation to withdrawal of systemic or topical steroids, and its pathogenesis is unclear.
Objective: To investigate serum Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in patients with erythroderma and its correlation to malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP).
Patients and methods: 26 patients with erythroderma referred to dermatology clinic in Tikrit Teaching Hospital were included in the study after giving informed consent. The study was approved by the ethical committee of Tikrit University College of Medicine. Twenty five healthy volunteers, without clinical, laboratory or histological evidence of any disease, were included in the study as control group. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for serum ADA, MDA, TAC and ECP at the time of inclusion in the study and after complete improvement following methotrexate treatment course.
Results: Mean [±SD] serum ADA activity, MDA, and ECP levels at the time of inclusion in the study were significantly higher than that following methotrexate treatment and control group. Serum TAC pretreatment means value was lower than that following treatment, and control group. Serum ADA levels before treatment was significantly positively correlated with MDA serum levels, ECP serum levels and gender. In addition, ADA serum levels were significantly negatively correlated with TAC serum levels. ESR was significantly correlated with ADA, MDA, ECP serum levels and negatively with TAC.
Conclusion: ADA serum activity and serum levels of MDA, ECP and TAC may be used to predict disease response to treatment and prognosis.

Key words: Adenosine deaminase, Malondialdehyde, Total antioxidant capacity, Erythroderma, Psoriasis.