Evaluation of microvessel density with CD31 and CD105 in patients with psoriasis under methotrexate and acitretin therapy

Introduction
Methotrexate and acitretin are known to be effective in the treatment of psoriasis, but the mechanisms of the effects of these drugs are not fully known.

Aim
To investigate the effect of methotrexate and acitretin on microvessel density (MVD) in psoriasis.

Material and methods
Eighteen patients with psoriasis treated with methotrexate and 9 patients with psoriasis treated with acitretin (AT) were included in this study. MVD was evaluated immunohistochemically by using CD31 and CD105 (endoglin) antibodies.

Results
In the methotrexate group, the decrease in CD31 levels after treatment was found to be statistically significant, while in the AT group it was found to be highly significant. In both methotrexate and AT group, there was a statistically highly significant decrease in CD105 levels after treatment. There was no statistically significant difference between CD31 measurements of methotrexate and AT groups. When CD105 levels were measured before and after treatment, no statistically significant difference was found between methotrexate and AT. According to the results of CD31 changes before and after treatment, the CD31 difference was not statistically significant in both groups while the difference was higher in the AT group. CD105 differences were not statistically significant in both treatment groups before and after treatment.

Conclusions
CD31 and CD105 dyes indicate the effects of therapies on vascular proliferation and may be indicators that can be used in daily routine and follow-up studies for psoriasis.