Diagnostic utility of ki67 and cyclin D1 immunostaining in differentiating psoriasis from psoriasiform dermatitis: A clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study

Abstract

Background: Differentiating psoriasis from psoriasiform dermatitis is often challenging due to overlapping clinical and histopathological features. Immunohistochemical markers such as Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 may aid in improving diagnostic accuracy.
Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 immunostaining in distinguishing psoriasis from psoriasiform dermatitis.
Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 70 skin biopsy samples. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 were performed. Statistical analysis was done using appropriate tests with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 expression levels were significantly higher in psoriasis versus psoriasiform dermatitis (p < 0.001). A larger number of psoriatic cases showed significant immunostaining, indicating enhanced keratinocyte proliferation and cell cycle activity. Both markers had good sensitivity and specificity, indicating reliable diagnostic performance.
Conclusion: Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 are reliable immunohistochemistry markers that can distinguish psoriasis from psoriasiform dermatitis. Their capacity to detect enhanced cellular proliferation and cell cycle dysregulation improves diagnostic accuracy, especially in histologically unclear situations, allowing for more precise diagnosis and better clinical care.