Can Serum Fetuin-A be Used as a Marker for Cardiovascular Involvement in Psoriatic Patients?

Background: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disorder. It is associated with increased risk of developing other chronic health diseases such cardiovascular disorders. Fetuin A is a glycoprotein that is present in blood serum. It may prevent vascular calcification by forming calciprotien particles; which are formed from their attachment with phosphate and calcium complexes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to measure serum Fetuin A in Psoriatic patients and correlate its level with cardiac events and risks in these patients using CT calcium (Ca) scoring.

Patients and methods: 24 psoriatic patients (healthy without apparent cardiac risks to detect subclinical events if present) and 24 age and sex matched controls were tested for serum Fetuin A and underwent coronary calcium scoring by multidetector computed tomography (CT) scan. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score for each patient was measured and was correlated with serum Fetuin A and CT calcium (Ca) scoring. Serum Fetuin A was compared between cases and controls and was correlated with coronary calcium score.

Results: There was highly statistically significant decrease in serum Fetuin A level in psoriatic group compared to control group (P-value < .001). There was highly statistically significant negative correlation between calcium score and the level of serum Fetuin A (P-value < .001). No statistically significant correlation was found between the serum level of Fetuin A and the psoriasis severity.

Conclusion: Serum Fetuin A is a simple, easy diagnostic tool to evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis in psoriatic patients.