Impact of Methotrexate on Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Reduced Glutathione in Patients with Vulgaris Psoriasis

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of methotrexate on serum of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) reduced glutathione (GSH) and disease severity in psoriatic patients.Aim:  To estimate the impacts of methotrexate on levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and reduced glutathione (GSH) in serum of patients with psoriasis and to assess the efficacy and impact of methotrexate on severity of psoriasis which recognized by psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). This is a follow up study conducted on a total 80 subjects; forty patients (25 male and 15 female) with plaque psoriasis compared to forty healthy persons (21male and 19 female). Venous blood collected from the clinic of dermatology in Merjan Teaching Hospital in Hilla city/Iraq. Serum was prepared from collected blood, and used to investigate the effect of methotrexate on serum vascular endothelial growth factor and reduced glutathione concentrations. The present study findings revealed a significant elevation in serum vascular endothelial growth factor concentration and significant decrease in reduced glutathione concentration in patients group when compared to the control group. On the other hand, the study showed significant reduction in serum vascular endothelia growth factor level and PASI score after three month’s duration of treatment with methotrexate, and significant elevation of serum reduced glutathione level after the same period of treatment.

Keywords: Psoriasis vascular endothelial growth factor, reduced glutathione, psoriasis area and severity index and methotrexate.