Abstract 485: Platelet Aggregation Is Increased In Psoriasis And Associated With Biomarkers Of Vascular Health

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is associated with vascular inflammation and increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Platelet hyperactivity is implicated in impaired vascular health and CV disease (CVD). The association between platelet activity, psoriasis, and vascular health has not been fully explored. Objective: To measure platelet aggregation in patients with psoriasis and controls and explore the association with biomarkers of inflammation and vascular stiffness. Methods: Participants with psoriasis (n=33, age 51 ± 16 years, 61% male), affecting 7% ± 14 of their body surface area (BSA), were compared to healthy controls (n=15) (Table 1A). Platelet aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) agonists, epinephrine (Epi), and arachidonic acid (AA) was measured via light transmission aggregometry (LTA). Vascular stiffness was assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), a metrics of arterial stiffness and biomarker of CV risk. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was measured in a clinical laboratory. Results: Enrolled psoriasis participants were older, were more frequently white, and had higher body mass index and elevated hs-CRP and PWV compared to controls (Table 1A). Platelet aggregation was higher in psoriasis patients after stimulation with ADP (p=0.01), Epi (p=0.05), and AA with ex vivo aspirin co-incubation (p=0.04) when compared with controls in multivariable models. Platelet aggregation to ADP trended to positive association with PWV (r=0.25, p=0.08), and hs-CRP (r=0.29, p=0.06) after adjustment for age and sex (Figure 1C). Conclusion: Platelet aggregation was increased in participants with psoriasis and trended towards positive association with biomarkers of vascular stiffness and inflammation. These findings have important implications for future clinical trials of targeting platelet activity to reduce CV risk in psoriasis.