Diagnostic implication of measuring epidermal parameters in psoriasis-a study of 50 cases.

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: To make micrometric measurements of important histomorphological parameters in skin biopsies in histopathologically confirmed cases of psoriasis. To analyse the data statistically for significance of each parameter in supporting the diagnosis of psoriasis. To emphasize the importance of micrometric measurements in psoriatic biopsies having diagnostic difficulty. Material and Methods: This study conducted was based on skin biopsies received for histopathology in the pathology department of a teaching hospital from July 2013 to September 2015. A total of 50 skin biopsies where a histopathological diagnosis of psoriasis formed the study group. Thin Hematoxylin and Eosin stained sections were used for the micrometric measurements. Important epidermal parameters were measured using slide and eyepiece micrometer. All the epidermal parameters were statistically analysed for each sample. The mean values of these parameters with standard deviation (SD) were calculated. Data was reported as mean, SD and range of these parameters. Statistical analysis was done using Primer of Biostats software. Results: There were 32 male and 18 female among the total 50 cases. Following were the morphometric measurements obtained in our study: the mean length of rete pegs(µm)-356.18±168.9, the mean length of dermal papillae(µm)- 299.06±2.17, the ratio of length/average width of rete pegs 5.44±0.13,Width at 25%length/width at 75%length of rete pegs: psoriasis 0.55±149.09,Suprapapillary thickness(µm)-53.75±45.78. Conclusion: The measurements of epidermal parameters can be used as supplementary, cost effective diagnostic tool in biopsies with dilemma in psoriasis diagnosis. However larger studies including varied study population are needed to supplement the values obtained in this study.