Subclinical atherosclerosis in psoriatic arthritis: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).


METHODS
Forty patients with PsA were enrolled. Controls were matched by age, sex, and atherosclerotic risk factors. All patients and controls underwent duplex scan of the carotid arteries. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was evaluated and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques was recorded. The plaques were graded and carotid plaque index was calculated.


RESULTS
Patients with PsA had a higher IMT (mean +/- standard deviation, 1.04 +/- 0.35 mm vs 0.88 +/- 0.29 mm in controls; p = 0.03), and had a higher carotid plaque index than did matched controls (2.3 +/- 2.6, compared to 1.12 +/- 2.09; p = 0.03). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PsA status as well as age and triglyceride levels were associated with the presence of carotid plaque. Other traditional risk factors were more prevalent among patients with PsA; however, they were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates that patients with PsA may have an increased prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis. These findings may not be solely attributable to traditional risk factors alone. Special attention and strict control of atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with PsA is warranted.
Eder
Lihi
L
Department of Internal Medicine, Carmel Medical Center, Lin Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. benlihi@gmail.com
Zisman
Devy
D
Barzilai
Menashe
M
Laor
Arie
A
Rahat
Michal
M
Rozenbaum
Michael
M
Bitterman
Haim
H
Feld
Joy
J
Rimar
Doron
D
Rosner
Itzhak
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000150:complications*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography