The Role of Elafin in the Pathogenesis of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease that affects the skin, nails, joints, and cardiovascular system. In this study, involving 50 psoriatic patients and 28 healthy controls (patients with inguinal hernia), serum elafin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results revealed significantly higher serum elafin levels in the psoriatic group compared to healthy individuals. Moreover, we observed a statistically significant positive correlation between serum elafin levels and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores. These findings indicate that elafin—a protein involved in psoriasis pathogenesis—is significantly altered in the serum of psoriatic patients and may be associated with disease severity.