Evaluation of Angiopoietin 2 Serum Level in Lichen Planus and Psoriasis Patients

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis and lichen planus (LP) are common chronic inflammatory skin diseases. The exact pathogenesis of these diseases until now is not fully determined. Angiogenesis is tightly regulated by a balance between pro- and anti-angiogenic mediators. Objective: To assess the relation of Ang-2 serum level with angiogenesis and inflammation that occurs in psoriasis and lichen planus. Patients and Methods: Thirty adult patients were included in this study. They were divided into 2 groups, 15 patients each, of psoriasis and lichen planus (8 patients with combined cutaneous and oral LP and 7 patients with cutaneous LP only). In addition to fifteen healthy subjects taken as control. The activity of the diseases was estimated at the time of examination using specific activity index for each disease. The serum level of angiopoietin 2 had been estimated by ELISA. Results: It was found that these diseases had significantly higher serum levels of angiopoietin 2 than the control group. The serum levels of angiopoietin 2 were higher in psoriasis compared to lichen planus, but the difference between psoriasis and lichen planus was not statistically significant. There was significant positive correlation between serum levels of angiopoietin 2 and the clinical severity of psoriasis. On the other hand, there was no correlation between serum level of angiopoietin 2 and the clinical severity of lichen planus. Conclusion: An important evidence on the importance of angiopoietin 2 serum level in pathogenesis of lichen planus as well as psoriasis. It elevated in serum of psoriasis and lichen planus patients that reflects its role in angiogenesis and inflammation that are important events in the development of these diseases.