Original Article

Serum Interferon-γ Is a Psoriasis Severity and Prognostic Marker

Abdallah MA, Abdel-Hamid MF, Kotb AM, Mabrouk EA

Cutis. 2009;84:163-168.

The aim of this study was to measure serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels in participants with different types and severities of psoriasis. The study was conducted on 21 participants with psoriasis. Participants were divided into 3 groups according to disease severity: erythrodermic, severe plaque, and mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. Fifteen participants received different treatment modalities for 16 weeks and were followed for an additional 12 weeks. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to measure serum IFN-g levels in participants before treatment and compared with matched controls and participants receiving treatment. Significant differences were detected between participants and controls in mean serum IFN-g levels before treatment (P<.05). There was a positive correlation between serum IFN-g levels and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores, and between serum IFN-g levels and clinical type of psoriasis, with the highest serum IFN-g levels in the erythrodermic psoriasis group and the lowest in the mild to moderate plaque psoriasis group. Irrespective of the type of treatment, 13 of 15 participants who showed improvement in disease condition with a significant decrease in PASI scores also had a significant decrease in serum IFN-g levels (P<.05). Moreover, participants with serum IFN-g levels that did not dramatically decrease had a shorter remission period compared with those who showed a significant decrease in serum IFN-g levels. The substantial elevation and variation in serum IFN-g levels according to disease severity suggest that IFN-g has a role in determining disease severity and therapy evaluation, which encourages further research on anti–IFN-g biologic therapy in the treatment of psoriasis.

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