Serum levels of total immunoglobulin E in patients with psoriasis: relationship with clinical type of disease.

Psoriasis is a common cutaneous disorder characterized by inflammation and abnormal epidermal proliferation. Its severity ranges from a chronic plaque psoriasis (CPP) to generalized psoriatic erythroderma (PE). The cause of psoriasis is unknown although most evidence supports the hypothesis that psoriasis is an immunologically mediated disease. The aim of the study was to compare serum levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) between patients with psoriasis and healthy subjects, and to asses the difference between localized form (CPP) and extensive form of disease (PE). Fifty patients with psoriasis and 30 healthy subjects were included in this study. Serum levels of IgE were measured using nephelometric method. Serum levels of total IgE were significantly higher in patients than in controls (42% vs 10%; p < 0.05). The exact role of serum IgE in psoriasis should be additionally investigated in future studies.