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Review
. 2023 Aug 30:10:1208969.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1208969. eCollection 2023.

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

Guangcheng Gao  1 , Yuli Cui  1 , Haiyan Cheng  1
Affiliations
Review

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

Guangcheng Gao et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic skin disease which is related to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In the pathogenesis of these diseases, adipokines, including retinol binding protein-4 (RBP-4), play crucial roles. Studies have also shown that RBP-4 might be a meaningful factor in psoriasis however, relying on the analysis of a single study have some drawbacks.

Objective: To evaluate the association between RBP-4 and psoriasis vulgaris more comprehensively.

Methods: Six databases were searched to obtain relevant publications. The selection of the included studies was based on a criteria. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used for analysis. A value of p < 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 containing the data of RBP-4 levels before and after treatment, no significance was found, either for RBP-4 levels in the after-treatment group and control group in these five studies (p > 0.05). Subgroup analysis was conducted based on the therapy method. Patients with systematic treatment showed a significant decrease of BRP-4 level after the treatment (SMD = -0.64, 95%CI: -1.26, -0.03, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: For patients with psoriasis vulgaris, RBP-4 levels are elevated, and systematic treatment can lower these 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 protocols and enlarged populations are still needed.

Keywords: comorbidity; dermatology; meta-analysis; psoriasis; retinol binding protein.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of publication selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of the levels of RBP-4 in psoriasis vulgaris patients and control subjects in seven studies.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot of the levels of RBP-4 in psoriasis vulgaris patients after and before treatment in five studies.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot of the levels of RBP-4 in psoriasis vulgaris patients after treatment and control subjects in five studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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