Association between antistreptolysin-O serum level and chronic plaque psoriasis in Iraqi patients

Abstract

Objective Psoriasis is a disease characterised by T-cell-mediated hyperproliferation of keratinocytes initiated by antigen-presenting cells on
the skin. Environmental factors including streptococcus infections and multiple genetic components may be responsible for the pathogenesis
of the disease. This study was performed to assess the association between antistreptolysin-O (ASO) serum level and chronic plaque psoriasis.
Methods Serum level of ASO was measured in 45 doctor-diagnosed psoriatic patients with an age range of 10–50 years attending the
dermatology outpatient clinic in Al-Hussein Medical City in Kerbala Province – Iraq during the period from March 2014 through July 2015.
Psoriatic patients with chronic plaque type were selectively recruited to the study. Another 20 age- and gender-matched persons were
chosen as healthy control group. Serum level of ASO was estimated in all patients and control group using enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA).
Findings Data revealed a significantly increased serum ASO level in the chronic plaque-type psoriatic patients compared to the healthy
control group (P-value < 0.05).
Conclusion The present study suggests that serum ASO level could be associated with the immunopathogenesis and/or susceptibility to
this type of psoriasis.