Chronic plaque psoriasis is associated with increased arterial stiffness.
BACKGROUND
Patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis. Arterial stiffness is a measure of endothelial dysfunction and an independent predictor of cardiovascular events.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether chronic plaque psoriasis is associated with an increased arterial stiffness.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study on 39 adult patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis and 38 control patients with skin diseases other than psoriasis was conducted. Arterial stiffness was assessed by carotid-femoral and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWVcf, PWVcr).


RESULTS
PWVcf was significantly higher in patients with psoriasis than in controls (means +/- SD; 8.88 +/- 1.96 vs. 7.57 +/- 1.34 m/s; p = 0.001). Difference was still significant after adjustment for age, gender, smoking status, hypertension and body mass index (8.78 +/- 1.98 vs. 7.78 +/- 2.0 m/s; p = 0.03). There was a positive correlation between PWVcf and years of psoriasis duration (r = 0.58; p = 0.0001), but not with disease severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis may be independently associated with increased arterial stiffness. Psoriasis duration could be a risk factor for arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis.
Gisondi
Paolo
P
Section of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. paolo.gisondi@univr.it
Fantin
Francesco
F
Del Giglio
Micol
M
Valbusa
Filippo
F
Marino
Francesca
F
Zamboni
Mauro
M
Girolomoni
Giampiero
G
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D015415:Biomarkers; D014280:Triglycerides; D006710:Homocysteine; D002784:Cholesterol