AUTHOR=Gao Guangcheng , Cui Yuli , Cheng Haiyan 

TITLE=Association between retinol binding protein-4 and psoriasis vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1208969

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2023.1208969

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Background: Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic skin disease, which is related to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In the pathogenesis of these diseases, the adipokines, including retinol binding protein-4 (RBP-4) play crucial roles. Studies also showed that RBP-4 might be a meaningful factor in psoriasis. However, certain drawbacks are shown for one single study. Objective: To evaluate the association between RBP-4 and psoriasis vulgaris more comprehensively. Methods: Six databases were searched to obtain the publications. The selection of the included studies was based on the criteria. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to analyze. P-value <0.05 was defined as significance. Results: Seven studies were included, with 271 cases and 235 controls. In the comparison between patients and controls, the merged data suggested that levels of RBP-4 were significantly higher in patients (SMD=0.61, 95%CI: 0.14, 1.07, P<0.05). In five studies containg the data of RBP-4 level before and after the treatment, no sifnificance was found, either for RBP-4 level between after treatment group and control group in this five studies (P>0.05). Then subgroup analysis was conducted based on the therapy method, patients with systematic treatment showed a significant decrease after treatment (SMD=-0.64, 95%CI: -1.26, -0.03, P<0.05). Conclusions: For patients with psoriasis vulgaris, RBP-4 levels are elevated, and systematic treatment can lower the levels.RBP-4 might act as a key indicator for the diagnosis, efficacy assessment and comorbidity monitoring of the patients. Further studies with well-designed protocol and enlarged populations are still in need.