Elevated TNF-alpha and its metabolic implications in psoriasis patients

• Author Details:   
• Sada Abdul-Ridha ^*
• Nazar S. Haddad
• Hadaf A. Aljunaiyeh

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Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease linked to excessive production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?), a cytokine that plays a crucial role in disease development. TNF-? stimulates inflammation and accelerates skin cell proliferation, leading to psoriatic plaque formation. Additionally, elevated TNF-? levels are associated with disruption of glucose regulation and lipid metabolism. Thus, elevated TNF-? is a key factor linking inflammation and metabolic dysregulation in these individuals. This study aimed to investigate the effect of high TNF-? levels in patients with psoriasis.
Materials and Methods: The study included 90 patients with psoriasis (46 males and 44 females) aged 18 – 64 years. Consultant Dermatologists diagnosed the patients at the Dermatology Clinic, Al-Nasiriyah Teaching Hospital, Thiqar, Iraq. The study also included 90 control subjects, 46 males and 44 females, aged 18-65 years, who appeared to be in good health and were under the supervision of a qualified physician. The patient and control attended Al-Nasiriyah Teaching Hospital, the study took place in Thiqar, Iraq from January 2024 to the end of June 2024, specifically in Southern Iraq. TNF-? was measured using an (ELISA). FBG, S.TG, and HDL-C levels were also measured using Cobas Integra 400 Plus.
Results: The mean TNF-? level in the patients group was found to be 120.66 ± 24.08, compared to 99.76 ± 13.86 in the control group (P < 0>
Conclusion: The study revealed that individuals with psoriasis have higher levels of metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers than healthy individuals, but these markers do not necessarily indicate disease severity.

Keywords: Psoriasis, TNF- ?, PASI score.