Decreased levels of vaspin and its potential association with cardiometabolic risk in patients with psoriasis: preliminary results

Introduction
Omentin and vaspin are considered to have beneficial effects preventing the development of metabolic disorders which are common comorbidities in psoriasis. Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the serum level of these adipokines in psoriatic patients and elucidate possible associations with disease activity, metabolic or inflammatory parameters and systemic treatment.

Material and methods
: 33 patients with active plaque-type psoriasis and 11 healthy controls participated in the study. Blood samples were collected before and after 3 months of treatment with acitretin or methotrexate.

Results
Serum vaspin concentration in psoriatic patients was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). No correlation between adipokines and severity of disease evaluated with PASI was found. However, median vaspin levels decreased with the severity of skin lesions and the omentin level was higher in patients with severe disease versus those with moderate form (p < 0.05). The vaspin level correlated with BMI of psoriatic patients (p < 0.05), with cholesterol and triglycerides levels (p = 0.054, p = 0.049, respectively). No significant effect of systemic treatment on omentin levels was found. Regarding vaspin, we observed an upward trend in its concentration after treatment.

Conclusions
Omentin and vaspin may play a modulating role in the systemic inflammation present in psoriasis and thus may contribute to the development of metabolic complications.