VITAMIN-A AND VITAMIN-E BLOOD-LEVELS IN ERYTHRODERMIC AND PUSTULAR PSORIASIS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC-ALCOHOLISM

Vitamin A and E blood levels were determined, using a high-performance liquid chromatographic method, in 7 patients with erythrodermic psori asis or psoriatic acral pustulosis associated or not associated with c hronic 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 level s were reduced in all the patients in the group ''erythrodermic psoria sis/psoriatic acral pustulosis'', while vitamin E blood levels were be low 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 psor iasis vulgaris without heavy alcohol consumption - vitamin A and E blo od levels were not reduced. The implication of vitamin E in psoriasis, probably by its antioxidant activity, and its relationship with selen ium are discussed. We suggest that attention should be paid to the vit amin A deficiency in erythrodermic or pustular psoriasis and to the vi tamin E deficiency when these inflammatory diseases are associated wit h chronic alcoholism.