Psoriasis: is it a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases?

Background/objectives: Psoriasis, newly considered as a systemic inflammatory condition, has a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. Measurement of carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT) represents a noninvasive diagnostic tool for predicting cardiovascular disorders. We aimed to determine if psoriatic patients have an increased risk for the development of cardiovascular disorders by assessment of the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients.

Methods: Forty adult psoriatic patients and 40 matched healthy controls were selected in this study. All participants were subjected to full history, examination, assessment of the severity of psoriasis using psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score, measuring serum lipid profile (cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides) and C-IMT.

Results: Psoriatic patients showed significantly higher serum lipid profile findings and C-IMT. There was a positive statistically significant correlation between C-IMT and each of age of the patients (r = 0.760, p<.001) and severity of psoriasis (PASI score).

Conclusions: There is increased susceptibility to CVDs in psoriatic patients represented by increased incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia in our patients.