Lower platelet counts are associated with severe disease in patients with psoriasis, according to a recent study reported in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology

A total of 120 patients with psoriasis were enrolled for this cross-sectional study. Disease severity was assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. Platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution width (RDW) were chosen as probable hematological markers of severity of disease. The correlation of PASI with platelet count, MPV and RDW was then examined.

Results showed a significantly lower platelet count in patients with high PASI score (Pearson correlation coefficient [r] = –0.224. But no correlation was observed between PASI score and MPV (r = 0.015) and RDW (r = –0.09). A moderate association between PASI score and the blood markers was noted when patients were stratified by age and sex. A positive association was observed between MPV and PASI score in men but not in women patients. RDW was negatively correlated with PASI score in patients below 50 years of age.

This study has demonstrated an inverse association between platelet count and disease severity and progression. Hence, hematological parameters like platelet count may be used complementary to PASI score as indicators of severity of psoriasis. According to the authors, these parameters may also serve “as a gauge for likelihood of developing comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease”.

Psoriasis as a disease has evolved over the last decade from being a disease of the skin and joints to a multi system disorder. The comorbidities associated with the disease have become a major concern in these patients as the chronic inflammatory state associated with the disease can play real havoc in the health of the patient. Newer markers like thrombocytopenia associated with severe psoriasis can go a long way in predicting the prognosis of the disease and to manage these patients more aggressively to prevent morbidity and mortality

Reference

1. Nageen S, et al. Platelet count, mean platelet volume, and red cell distribution width as markers for psoriasis severity. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022 Feb 1;21(2):156-161. doi: 10.36849/jdd.6127.