Elevated serum levels of endocan in patients with psoriasis vulgaris: correlations with cardiovascular risk and activity of disease

SummaryBackground Psoriasis vulgaris is an inflammatory disease characterized by epidermal hyperproliferation, leucocyte adhesion molecule expression and leucocyte infiltration. Psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction is widely regarded as being the initial process in the development of atherosclerosis. Human endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (endocan) is a novel human endothelial cell-specific molecule. Previous studies suggested that endocan may be a novel endothelial dysfunction marker. Objectives To investigate the relationship between serum levels of endocan and both cardiovascular risk and disease activity in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Methods A total of 29 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 35 control subjects were included in the study. Endocan, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and carotid artery intima–media thickness (cIMT) were measured in all subjects. Results Serum endocan levels were significantly different between the two groups (P