CHARACTERISTICS OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Abstract. Introduction. Patients with psoriatic arthritis are exposed to a higher risk of developing cardiovascular complications. Development and progression of these disorders are based on a complex of closely interrelated factors, such as traditional cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular toxicity of some antirheumatic drugs, primarily non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids, and chronic autoimmune inflammation, which, according to many researchers, is the leading pathogenetic mechanism of atherosclerotic vascular lesions. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of traditional risk factors, the state of the blood lipid spectrum, and atherosclerotic remodeling of peripheral arteries in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Materials and Methods. We examined 84 patients (41 women and 43 men) aged 20 to 65 years. Arthritis was diagnosed based on the CASPAR criteria. Patients were assessed regarding traditional risk factors, such as hypertension, obesity, smoking, aggravated family history of CVD, diabetes, physical inactivity, and dyslipidemia; ten-year total coronary risk was calculated using the SCORE scale. To diagnose subclinical atherosclerosis, the patients underwent Doppler ultrasound of the carotid arteries with an assessment of the intima-media complex thickness. Results and Discussion. Assessment of disease development risk factors showed that all patients with psoriatic arthritis had from one to five risk factors. More common risk factors were smoking in 50 (59.5 %) patients, AO in 44 (52.4 %), dyslipidemia in 48 (57.1 %), and arterial hypertension. Patients with a long history of the disease have a higher prevalence of risk factors. According to the results of calculating the ten-year total coronary risk (SCORE scale), most patients were in the group of low (46.4 %) and moderate (38 %) risk. An association was found between the level of total coronary risk and arthritis activity in groups of patients with low and moderate risk. The average intima-media complex thickness of the common carotid artery in the group of patients with psoriatic arthritis was statistically significantly higher than in those in the control group (p=0.0361).Conclusions. An increased risk of cardiovascular complications was found in patients with psoriatic arthritis, while most patients have several risk factors in various proportions. According to the risk assessment on the SCORE scale, it was found to be statistically significant in the group of patients with psoriatic arthritis, which correlates with disease activity. The presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was detected in form of a statistically significant increase in the intima-media complex thickness of the carotid arteries. All the above indicates the current problem of psoriasis comorbidity, which dictates a personalized comprehensive approach to therapy for the selection of safe and adequate therapy for all diseases diagnosed in an individual patient.