Vitamin A and E blood levels in erythrodermic and pustular psoriasis associated with chronic alcoholism

Acta Derm Venereol. 1994 Jul;74(4):298-301. doi: 10.2340/0001555574298301.

Abstract

Vitamin A and E blood levels were determined, using a high-performance liquid chromatographic method, in 7 patients with erythrodermic psoriasis or psoriatic acral pustulosis associated or not associated with chronic alcoholism, during and after the acute episode. These vitamins were also studied in 5 patients with psoriasis vulgaris involving more than 80% of the surface body area and associated with chronic alcohol intake and in 17 patients with psoriasis vulgaris involving more than 50% of the skin but without chronic alcoholism. Vitamin A blood levels were reduced in all the patients in the group "erythrodermic psoriasis/psoriatic acral pustulosis", while vitamin E blood levels were below the normal range during the acute psoriatic episode only in the 5 patients having a history of chronic alcohol intake in this group. In the other groups--psoriasis vulgaris with chronic alcoholism and psoriasis vulgaris without heavy alcohol consumption--vitamin A and E blood levels were not reduced. The implication of vitamin E in psoriasis, probably by its antioxidant activity, and its relationship with selenium are discussed. We suggest that attention should be paid to the vitamin A deficiency in erythrodermic or pustular psoriasis and to the vitamin E deficiency when these inflammatory diseases are associated with chronic alcoholism.

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism / complications*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psoriasis / blood*
  • Psoriasis / complications*
  • Psoriasis / pathology
  • Vitamin A / blood*
  • Vitamin E / blood*

Substances

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin E