Multiparameter flow cytometry as a tool to evaluate antipsoriatic therapy

Objective comparison of different antipsoriatic therapies requires quantitative assessment of disease severity.However, clinical assessment with the widely used Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)inaccuracy.An alternative is the quantitative analysis of different epidermal cell parameters using multiparameter flow cytometry.Our aim in the present study was to compare the clinical and flow cytometric approach to monitor disease activity and to evaluate antipsoriatic efficacy.Clinical scores for erythema, induration and scaling were assessed and biopsies for flow cytometric analysis were obtained from the psoriatic plaques of 89 patients before and after treatment with different therapeutic regimens consisting of vitamin D3 analogues and cortico steroids.In total, 219 epidermal cell suspensions were analysed using triple-labelling, with the simultaneous staining of markers for epidermal proliferation (DNA dye TO-PRO-3), differentiation (antikeratin 10), and inflammation (antivimentin).Correlation analysis was performed on 166 paired values obtained from 83 patients.A highly