الفهرس 
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Abstract
Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing multi-system skin disorder whose pathogenesis involves a complex interaction between genetic, immunological and environmental factors. IL-17 has been supposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis by acting on keratinocytes, endothelial and immune cells to stimulate epidermal hyperproliferation and pro-inflammatory cycle seen within psoriatic plaque. IL-17 also upregulates the production of several chemokines that are implicated in pathogenesis of the disease. Increased cardiovascular comorbidity has been suggested with psoriasis, and the incidence of thromboembolic accidents in psoriatic patients has been reported to be higher than their age matched controls. IL-17 may represent one of the main link between cardiovascular disease manifestation and psoriatic inflammation. IL-17 has been claimed to play a role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of cardiovascular comorbidity that may be associated with chronic inflammatory diseases like psoriasis. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess serum level of IL-17 in psoriatic patients, and to evaluate its possible relation to cardiovascular comorbidity. In order to accomplish this aim, the study was conducted on 40 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis (group I) and 20 healthy controls of matched age and sex (group II). group I was subdivided into group IA that included psoriatic patients having cardiovascular complaint and group IB which included patients with no cardiovascular complaint. Patients and controls were subjected to: • Complete history taking. • Thorough general and dermatological examination including PASI score calculation of psoriatic patients to assess severity of the disease. • Routine laboratory investigations. • Serum lipid profile determination. • Measurement of serum IL-17 level by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. • Left common carotid artery ultrasonography to measure IMT and ID. The results of this study revealed the following: • Clinical results: - The difference between the studied psoriatic and control group regarding age and sex revealed no significant difference. - Comparison between the studied psoriatic and control groups regarding BMI showed no significant difference. - Positive family history of psoriasis was found in 6 patients of group IA (40%) compared to 8 patients of group IB (32%) with no significant difference. - Comparison between both psoriatic groups regarding duration of the disease revealed significant increase in group IB. - There was a statistically significant increase in PASI score in group IA compared to group IB. • Laboratory results: - Regarding routine laboratory investigations, there was a significant elevation in serum ALT and blood urea in group IA compared to group IB and controls. - Regarding serum lipid profile, serum HDL-C was significantly decreased in group IA and group IB compared to controls, and also in group IA compared to group IB. Serum LDL was significantly higher in group IA compared to group IB and controls. - There was a significant increase in serum IL-17 in group IA and group IB compared to controls, and also in group IA compared to group IB. - Serum IL-17 was positively correlated with PASI score in group IA, while it was negatively correlated with serum HDL-C in groups IA and IB. • Carotid ultrasonography results: - The mean IMT of left common carotid artery was significantly increased in group IA and group IB compared to controls, and also in group IA compared to group IB. - Increase in left common carotid IMT was found in 5 patients in group IB (20%) indicating early atherosclerotic changes. - There was significant positive correlation between serum IL-17 and IMT of left common carotid artery in groups IA and IB.