Serological Evaluation of The Role of Heparinase in Psoriatic Patients

Khashaba, Shrook A.; Salem, Basma Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed; Abdullah, Rania M.; Anis, Nourhan

doi:10.21608/zumj.2025.378331.3924

Serological Evaluation of The Role of Heparinase in Psoriatic Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Professor of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

² Resident of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

³ Lecturer of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

⁴ Lecturer of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

10.21608/zumj.2025.378331.3924

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is considered a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a complex pathogenesis. While the roles of immune cells and inflammatory mediators have been extensively studied, the involvement of extracellular matrix components, especially heparan sulfate and its degrading enzyme heparinase has not been fully investigated. Given the enzyme's known functions in other autoimmune conditions, its potential role in psoriasis needed more investigation. This work aimed to assess the serum level of heparinase among psoriasis patients and to assess its relationship with both the disease severity and activity.

Methods: We carried out case-control study involving 20 patients with plaque psoriasis and 20 healthy controls at the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic, Zagazig University. Patients underwent clinical assessments, including Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and serum heparinase levels were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: Psoriatic patients had significantly higher heparinase level than the controls (P<0.001). Heparinase levels had a strong positive correlation with PASI scores (r=0.86, P<0.001). Stratified analysis revealed significantly elevated heparinase levels across severity groups (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Heparinase is markedly up regulated in psoriasis and shows a strong correlation with disease severity, so it could be a promising biomarker for both diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity. Further studies with larger populations are needed to validate these findings and explore its potential as a therapeutic target.

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