Abstract: The study compares the effect of PUVA and Qing Dai pill (a Chinese traditional medicine) regimen on SOD, LPO, cAMP and cGMP level variation in psoriatic patients. Seventy-four patients with psoriasis vulgaris were classified into two treatment groups——PUVA (36 cases) and Qing Dai pill (38 cases). SOD activity in RBC was detected by rapid catechol assay with microvolume of finger blood; serum LPO level was determined by TBA fluorescence colorimetric assay; plasma cAMP and cGMP concentrations were measured by RIA technology. Before treatment SOD activity was lower in all patients in comparison with normal controls (P<0.01). LPO level.was in normal range. cAMP was lower and cGMP higher than that of control group. After Qing Dai pill treatment, SOD activity and cAMP were improved to some degree, but LPO and cGMP levels did not show noticeable changes. After PUVA treatment, SOD activity further decreased and LPO increased. The therapeutic effect of PUVA on cAMP was a little better, but cGMP, much better than those of Qing Dai pill. The therapeutic effects of two treatments, possible mechanism of the effects on these biochemical indexes and their relation in clinical practice were discussed and analysed.

Key words: Psoriasis, PUVA, Qing Dai pill, Superoxide dismutase, Lipid peroxides, Adenosine cyclic monophosphate, Guanosine cyclic monophosphate