STUDY OF ASYMMETRIC DIMETHYL ARGININE (ADMA) AND ANTI CYCLIC CITRULINATED PEPTIDE (ANTI-CCP) IN IRAQI PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS VULGARIS.

proliferative skin disease that generally presents as chronic sharply demarcated, dull red, scaly plaques, particularly on extensor prominences and the scalp. ADMA is a naturally occurring chemical found in blood plasma. It is a metabolic by-product of continual protein modification processes in the cytoplasm of all human cells. ADMA interferes with L-arginine in the production of nitric oxide, a key chemical involved in normal endothelial function and, by extension, cardiovascular health. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) are highly specific diagnostic and prognostic markers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They have been also found in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), with controversies as regards clinical and radiological associations. Objectives:- To estimate level of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and asymmetric dimethyl arginine in sera of Iraqi patients with psoriasis vulgaris compared to healthy controls. Patients / Methods:- Fourty (40) psoriasis patients were recruited from the dermatology Outpatient clinic in Al-Imamain Al-Kadhimain city hospital from December of 2014 to summer of 2015.Patients body mass index ( BMI ) and waist circumference (WC) were recorded. Fasting serum samples were obtained on enrolment. All the patients did not receive any treatment (locally or systemically), for at least 20 days before enrolment. Age, sex and ( BMI ) matched with fourty(40) healthy controls were also recruited. Serum ADMA & anti CCP levels were estimated using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay ( ELISA ) technique (ADMA ELISA Assay Kit-Eagle Biosciences)and for ant-CCP(Anti CCP ELISA Genway GWB-521226 ) . The patients group were subdivided into two groups according to the diseases severity, into mild to moderate psoriasis ,group and severe psoriasis group. Results:- Serum levels of anti-CCP and ADMA were statistically significant elevated in the patients group compared to healthy controls ( p < 0.01 ). Also serum levels of ADMA statistically significant increased in in severe psoriasis compared to mild-to moderate psoriasis ( p <0.05 ). Conclusions:- These data support the view that serum anti-CCP and ADMA are involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, possibly by induction and maintenance of psoriatic lesion. serum ADMA levels of psoriasis patients may be an indicator of the disease severity levels of psoriasis patients may be an indicator of the disease severity.