Abstract: Objective To explore the correlation between the leukocyte rheology, cell adhesion molecule(CAM) expression and psoriasis. Methods Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), erythrocyte deformability apparatus and in vitro thrombus and platelet adhesion dual-purpose apparatus were used to determine the changes of leukocyte CD18 expression, levels of serum soluble intercelular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1), and the changes of leukocyte filtration index(LFI) and leukocyte adhesion rate(LAR). Results The leukocyte CD18 expression, sICAM-1 level, LFI and LAR were significantly increased in patients with psoriasis than those in controls(P<0.01), and along with the exacerbation of psoriatic skin lesions all the above parameters increased (P<0.01). The LFI and LAR in the patients were positively correlated to the expression of leukocyte CD18 and the sICAM-1 concentration (r=0.718, 0.669, 0.626, 0.680, P<0.01), LFI was positively correlated to LAR (r=0.588, P<0 01). Conclusion These results indicated that the abnormalities of leukocyte rheology and the increase of CAMs expression were closely related to the pathogenesis of psoriasis and the severity of psoriatic skin lesions.

Key words: Psoriasis, Cell adhesion molecules, Leukocyte rheology