title: Psoriasis and hemorheology. Influence of the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disorder with increased cardiovascular risk which has been partly attributed to the increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS). However, the contribution of rheological alterations to cardiovascular risk has been scarcely investigated. In 91 psoriasis patients and in 101 healthy volunteers, we determined the rheological profile (fibrinogen, blood viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation), along with lipidic and inflammatory parameters. Patients showed statistically higher BMI, waist, triglycerides, insulin, c-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophils, lower HDL-cholesterol and a higher MS prevalence (p<0.05). When subjects with MS were excluded from the study, patients with psoriasis still showed a worse inflammatory, lipidic and rheological profile in the above-mentioned variables compared with controls without MS (p<0.05). The logistic regression analysis revealed that abdominal obesity and fibrinogen>384 mg/dL were independent predictors of psoriasis (OR 3.75 95% CI 1.77-7.94, p<0.001; OR 2.95 95% CI 1.14-7.64, p=0.025), respectively. Patients on biologics, showed less inflammation and a better rheological profile than those not on biological treatment. In conclusion, patients with psoriasis show an altered rheological profile, which may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk. Although the presence of MS worsens this profile, psoriasis per se shows rheological alterations due to both inflammation and altered metabolic parameters. Anti TNF-α treatment markedly improves the rheological profile by mostly decreasing inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Hemorheology and Haemostasis Unit, Service of Clinical Pathology, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vayá
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ricart
authors.affiliation: Hemorheology and Haemostasis Unit, Service of Clinical Pathology, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andino
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Service, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Todoli
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Service, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Cornelio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Service, General Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Service, Dr. Peset University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bautista
mesh_terms: D001809:Blood Viscosity; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Psosiasis; hemorheolgy; metabolic syndrome