Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by genetics; and affected by other factors. Psoriasis pathogenesis is driven by proinflammatory cytokines and psoriasis is associated with increased risk for comorbidities. The pro-inflammatory molecules released during chronic inflammation may lead to the presence of one or more disorders occurring with psoriasis, as atherosclerosis, atherogenesis, insulin resistance, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and ED. Endothelial dysfunction is the key event in the pathophysiology of arteriogenic ED and, importantly, men with penile vascular dysfunction have endothelial dysfunction in other vascular beds. Symptoms of erectile difficulty precede overt structural occlusion of larger vessels, suggesting that ED is an early manifestation of systemic vascular disease. 

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the endothelial function in patients with psoriasis with or without arteriogenic erectile dysfunction through measuring serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in peripheral and penile blood. 

Patients and methods: 3 groups were included in this study: group 1 (Thirty patients with psoriasis and arteriogenic ED), group 2 (thirty patients with arteriogenic ED and without psoriasis) and group 3 (thirty healthy donors). All groups were subjected for measurement of serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in peripheral and penile blood as well as assessment of erectile function by Penile Duplex ultrasound. 

Results: Serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were elevated in Group 1 (psoriasis and arteriogenic ED) than group 2 (psoriasis without arteriogenic ED) in comparison to group 3 (healthy donors). 

Conclusion: Serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 measurements in psoriasis and erectile dysfunction can act as predictors of clinical management and outcome, anticipating treatment and avoiding evolution to endothelial damage.