Neuropeptides in Psoriasis: An Immunocytochemical and Radioimmunoassay Study

The present study examines the presence of neuropeptides in the skin and plasma of patients with psoriasis using the techniques of immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. Immunocytochemistry failed to demonstrate differences in the pattern of neuropeptide innervation in psoriatic lesional skin when compared to normal skin. However, radioimmunoassay of skin biopsy extracts, both substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, were significantly elevated in psoriatic lesional skin when compared with both psoriatic non-lesional and normal control skin (p