Evaluation of serum Calcium level in psoriatic patients

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic immune- mediated skin disease, with a genetic predisposition. Many factors can trigger or exacerbate psoriasis. Recently, some studies found that psoriasis was associated with hypocalcemia. So we did this study to find this association in our patients.

Objective: To evaluate serum calcium level in psoriatic patients and compare it with controls.

Methods: This case- control study included 160 subjects (80 patients with psoriasis and 80 controls) admitted to dermatology clinic at Tishreen University Hospital, Latakia, Syria, from 2020- 2021. Serum calcium and serum albumin levels were estimated in all patients.

Results: Calcium levels were significantly lower in psoriatic patients than in the control group (mean = 8.98±0.5 in patients vs 9.48±0.5 in controls, p- value<0.001). Calcium levels were significantly lower in patients with severe types of psoriasis (p- value<0.05). There was an inverse correlation between serum calcium levels and PASI score (r =- 0.3, p- value<0.05). There was also an inverse correlation between serum calcium levels and each of age and disease duration.

Conclusion: In this study, a low calcium level was observed in psoriatic patients. Hypocalcemia may be a marker for the severity of psoriasis. In addition, Calcium seems to have a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.