Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease Is Frequent in Patients with Severe Psoriasis

Early-onset, diffuse arterial atherosclerosis in coronary and carotid arteries was evident in these patients.

Epidemiologic studies suggest that coronary artery disease and stroke are more prevalent in patients with psoriasis. If this is true, early detection might be possible. Noninvasive means of assessing coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease can predict which patients might benefit from early intervention.

These authors compared 70 patients with severe psoriasis and no known cardiovascular disease or arthritis with 51 age- and sex-matched controls. They performed high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) testing, determined coronary calcification scores by multidetector computed tomography, and assessed carotid atherosclerosis with high-resolution ultrasound-derived carotid intima–media thickness. Baseline blood pressure, choles…

Reviewing Author

Jeffrey P. Callen, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board XOMA; Eli Lilly; Celgene

Equity Various trust accounts

Editorial boards JAMA Dermatology; UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societies Association of Professors of Dermatology (President-Elect)