Psoriasis: can statins play a dual role?
Recently, a strong association between "psoriasis" and "atherosclerosis" has emerged. Psoriasis patients have an increased prevalence of atherosclerotic disease including coronary artery, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular diseases. The exact connection between psoriasis and atherosclerosis remains unclear, but it is thought that inflammation, which plays an important role in both diseases, may be the causative link. Nevertheless, psoriasis patients suffer from an increased burden of atherosclerotic disease and most commonly die from "coronary artery disease" (CAD). Psoriatic patients have an increased prevalence of CAD risk factors and an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI). One CAD risk factor in psoriasis patients that can easily be managed is "hyperlipidemia." "Statins" are safe, cost-effective, and have been proven to be highly effective in preventing CAD, including MI, in patients with hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, in addition to their lipid lowering properties, statins have anti-inflammatory immunomodulator activities that may be beneficial in several autoimmune diseases including psoriasis. Considering the safety and cost-effectiveness of statins, we feel that it is worth investigating if statins can play a dual role in psoriasis by treating the increased atherosclerotic disease burden in these patients through their lipid lowering effects and by decreasing psoriatic disease activity through their anti-inflammatory immunomodulatory properties.
Rajpara
Anand N
AN
School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. arajpara@gmail.com
Goldner
Ronald
R
Gaspari
Anthony
A
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors