Abstract
Patients with psoriasis are prone to premature atherosclerosis and increased risk of cardiovascular disease events. However, the prevalence and extent of atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis are unknown. A cross-sectional study. The prevalence and extent of coronary and carotid atherosclerosis were compared in 70 patients with psoriasis (46±9years, 71% male) without known cardiovascular disease or joint involvement and 51 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects (45±7years, 71% male). Systemic inflammation was assessed by the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Coronary atherosclerosis was determined by the coronary calcification score (CCS) measured by multi-detector computed tomography. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by high-resolution ultrasound-derived carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Patients with psoriasis had a higher prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis (CCS>0; 28.6% vs. 3.9%, P<0.01), and a higher degree of coronary atherosclerosis estimated by the mean CCS (67.4±349.2 vs. 0.5±3.0, P<0.05) compared with controls. Similarly, cIMT was significantly greater in patients with psoriasis than in control subjects (0.73±0.11mm vs. 0.67±0.08mm, P<0.01). Multiple logistic regression revealed that psoriasis [odd ratio (OR): 10.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.89-58.67, P<0.01] and serum total cholesterol level (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.01-4.37) were associated with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis (CCS>0). By contrast, only age was independently associated with increased cIMT. Amongst participants with no traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, hs-CRP level was higher in patients with psoriasis than in controls. The present results demonstrate early-onset, diffuse arterial atherosclerosis in coronary and carotid arteries in patients with psoriasis, but not in age- and gender-matched control subjects. Low-grade inflammation could explain the presence of premature atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis.
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