title: High prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and enhanced activity of the renin-angiotensin system in psoriatic patients.
abstract: We have observed a significant higher prevalence of essential hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in a group of 100 psoriatic patients compared with sex and age matched hospitalized controls. Thirty-five psoriatic patients exhibited and enhanced plasma renin activity (PRA), while urinary aldosterone excretion was raised in 27% of the group. The autonomic responsiveness of psoriatic patients, studied by cold pressure test and tilting was normal; this finding supports the hypothesis that the enhanced activity of renin-angiotensin system is not due to an increased sympathetic function in these psoriatic patients. High values of cholesterol, triglycerides and depressed HDL-cholesterol concentrations were also observed. A complete clinical and laboratory examination is very useful in psoriasis in order to initiate an appropriate treatment of the risk factors whenever present.
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000652:urine; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000209:etiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D012306:Risk; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D012083:Renin