Role of endothelial cell specific molecule-1 (endocan) and cardiac imaging in early detection of cardiac involvement in psoriatic patients with or without arthritis

Abstract

Aim of the workMeasuring serum endocan level to determine its potential role in detecting subclinical cardiovascular involvement in psoriatic patients with or without arthritis. Patients and methodsThis work included 14 psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, 14 psoriasis only (PsO) patients, and 14 age and sex matched controls. The psoriasis area severity index was evaluated. Serum endocan level was measured, subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed using brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), and echocardiography: standard and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) was performed. ResultsThe mean age of PsA patients was 38.3 ± 9.9 years and for PsO was 37.9 ± 8 years. They were 3 males and 11 females in both groups with a comparable psoriasis duration (11 ± 4.9 vs 8 ± 6.3 years; p = 0.17). PsA patients had significantly increased endocan level (618 ± 227.8 ng/L) compared to those with PsO or controls (359 ± 185.7 and 130.6 ± 38.2 ng/L respectively; p < 0.001). 4 (28.6%) PsA patients, 1 (7.1%) PsO patient and none of the controls had FMD abnormality. TDI revealed early diastolic mitral annular motion velocity (E') abnormality in 5 (35.7%) PsA patients. In PsA patients, endocan level was significantly elevated in patients with FMD or E' abnormality compared to those without (p = 0.01 and p = 0.001, respectively). Serum endocan significantly negatively correlated with FMD and E' in psoriatic patients. Serum endocan significantly detected FMD and E' abnormalities in psoriatic patients (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively). ConclusionSubclinical cardiovascular involvement was evident among psoriatic patients, particularly those with arthritis. Serum endocan is a promising endothelial biomarker for detecting subclinical atherosclerosis and preclinical cardiac dysfunction in psoriatic patients.