Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-12, IL-17, IL-18 and VEGF were positively correlated and that of IL-10 was negatively correlated with PASI in Japanese patients with psoriasis. These parameters might be useful for determining the disease activity of psoriasis.

We examined the relation between adalimumab and infliximab plasma trough levels, anti-adalimumab and anti-infliximab antibody formation. We analyzed plasma from 32 adalimumab-treated and 20 infliximab-treated psoriasis patients for evaluating trough levels of each drug. The presence of anti-adalimumab and anti-infliximab antibodies was analyzed and the severity of psoriasis was evaluated. At week 28, 25 out of 32 and at week 48, 21 out of 30 adalimumab-treated patients maintained as more than PASI 75. At week 28, 12 out of 20 and at week 48, nine out of 18 infliximab-treated patients were evaluated as more than PASI 75. In patients treated with 40 mg adalimumab every other week, the mean trough level was 7.62 lg/mL (range, 0.05-10.6) at week 48. In patients treated with 80 mg adalimumab every other week, the mean trough level was 8.61 lg/mL (range, 0.08-13.5) at week 48. Mean trough level of infliximab-treated cases (4.1-5.2 mg/kg; mean, 4.6) was 4.64 lg/mL (range, 0.03-16.9) at week 48. Anti-adalimumab antibody was detected in five out of 32 cases and anti-infliximab antibody was detected in six out of 20 cases, respectively, at weeks 24 and 48. The optimal cut-off values of adalimumab and infliximab concentration for more than PASI 75 were more than 7.84 lg/mL and more than 0.92 lg/mL, respectively. The trough levels of adalimumab and infliximab in psoriasis patients were positively associated with clinical response and were significantly lower in cases having anti-adalimumab or anti-infliximab antibodies.

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Although barrier function of psoriatic skin is shown to be decreased by measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL), few reports exist examining other physical skin properties and components including stratum corneum hydration, natural moisturizing factor (NMF), free fatty acids (FFA), b-sheet and a-helix ratio of structural protein(s), and sebum content. We compared the skin properties and components of normal, involved and uninvolved skin of psoriasis. Using a corneometer and attenuated total reflection-infrared spectrometer, we measured TEWL, stratum corneum hydration, NMF, FFA, b/a ratio and sebum in psoriasis vulgaris patients and healthy controls. TEWL and b/ a ratio of involved psoriatic skin were significantly increased compared with uninvolved skin and normal control skin. In contrast, stratum corneum hydration, NMF and FFA, but not sebum, are significantly decreased in the involved skin compared with uninvolved skin and normal skin. TEWL and stratum corneum hydration returned to the normal levels following clinical improvement of the lesion. Barrier function and hydration of psoriatic skin are defective and secondary structure in stratum corneum protein is altered in the involved psoriatic skin.