Introduction

Psoriasis is a T cell-mediated inflammatory skin disease in which fatty acids may be a link between psoriasis and its comorbidity.

Aim

The present meta-analysis aimed to evaluate lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein levels in the psoriatic patients compared with the control subjects.

Material and methods

Four databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Library were searched until July 2017. All records analysed were case-control studies. The quality of the questionnaires was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A random-effects meta-analysis was done by Rev Man 5.3 using mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Out of 580 studies identified in four databases, 49 studies were included and analysed in this meta-analysis. The results showed that MD of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL, HDL, Lp(a), Apo A1, and Apo B levels in the patients compared with the controls were (MD = 13.74 mg/dl; 95% CI: 7.72–19.75; p < 0.00001), (MD = 26.04 mg/dl; 95% CI: 20.77–31.31; p < 0.00001), (MD = 11.41 mg/dl; 95% CI: 6.26–16.57; p < 0.0001), (MD = 4.82 mg/dl; 95% CI: 3.63–6.00; p < 0.00001), (MD = –2.78 mg/dl; 95% CI: –4.53 – –1.03; p < 0.002), (MD = 8.51 mg/dl; 95% CI: 4.86–12.17; p < 0.0001), (MD = –6.60 mg/dl; 95% CI: –13.96 – 0.75; p < 0.08), and (MD = 9.70 mg/dl; 95% CI: 3.02–16.39; p < 0.004), respectively.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis identified abnormality of serum lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein profiles in psoriatic patients compared with the controls as well as possibly a greater risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular (CV) accidents in the patients.