Increased subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin condition of unknown aetiology which usually requires life-long treatment. It is regarded a systemic inflammatory disease with a possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to assess carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque prevalence and carotid stenosis as surrogate measures for cardiovascular disease in psoriasis patients and healthy controls.


METHODS
Sixty-two patients with psoriasis and thirty-one healthy controls were included in the study. All were examined by Colour duplex ultrasound of the carotid arteries to compare carotid IMT values, carotid plaques and carotid stenosis in the two groups. Adjustments were made for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.


RESULTS
Patients with psoriasis had increased carotid IMT values compared to the controls: mean ± SD 0.71 ± 0.17 mm vs. 0.59 ± 0.08 mm; p = 0.001. When adjusted for known atherosclerotic risk factors this difference remained significant (p = 0.04). Carotid plaques were also more common (p = 0.03) in patients with psoriasis 13 (21%) compared to controls 1 (3%). There was no difference with regard to the number of carotid stenoses in patients and controls.


CONCLUSION
The results of this study support previous evidence which suggests that psoriasis is associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease.
['Evensen|Kristin|K|', 'Slevolden|Ellen|E|', 'Skagen|Karolina|K|', 'Rønning|Ole Morten|OM|', 'Brunborg|Cathrine|C|', 'Krogstad|Anne-Lene|AL|', 'Russell|David|D|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D050197:Atherosclerosis D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases D002339:Carotid Arteries D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness D002908:Chronic Disease D015897:Comorbidity D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D011565:Psoriasis D018570:Risk Assessment D012307:Risk Factors D012737:Sex Factors D055815:Young Adult
Atherosclerosis Psoriasis Carotid stenosis Carotid IMT Carotid plaques Carotid ultrasound Co-morbidity