Validity of hair selenium analysis as a biomarker of selenium concentration among Egyptian patients with psoriasis vulgaris

Introduction: Scalp hairs are filaments that can record and reflect changes in the metabolism of body elements over a prolonged time. Testing for hair metals represents a tool that provides clues about the mineral status in the body. The potential contribution of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense exhaustion has received significant attention for the determination of the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
Objective: To determine the utility of hair selenium (Se) level as a monitoring tool, by assessing the levels of Se in hair and serum samples of patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PsV), and correlating these levels with PsV severity scores.
Patients and methods: Estimation of Se concentrations in scalp hair and serum samples of 20 psoriasis patients and 20 healthy sex-matched and age-matched controls was performed. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index was scored. Se was measured in serum by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy and in hair using an electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer.
Results: Psoriasis patients had significantly lower means of hair Se concentrations than the controls (274.1±32.0, 354.7±38.1 ng/g; P

Source: Journal of the Egyptian Women’s Dermatologic Society - January 1, 2017 Category: Dermatology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research