title: Does treatment of psoriasis reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease?
abstract: Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease associated with multiple comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular death. It has been proposed that overlapping mechanisms of systemic inflammation contribute to the link between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease. Some psoriasis treatments decrease systemic inflammation, but the effect of psoriasis treatments on heart disease is unknown. In this review of 23 original research publications, we present preliminary evidence that some psoriasis therapies improve cardiovascular biomarkers and the incidence of cardiovascular risk. Phototherapy may reduce some inflammatory cytokines, but there is little evidence for a decreased risk of CVD outcomes. Both methotrexate and tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitors improve cardiovascular inflammatory biomarkers and improve CVD outcomes. Short-term data on interleukin-12/23 inhibitors are varied, but most data suggest there is not an increase in cardiovascular events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Murdough Family Center for Psoriasis, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, 11100 Euclid Ave. Bolwell 3100, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA, sarah.churton@uhhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Churton
authors.forename: Liza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Thuzar M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Korman
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010789:Phototherapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053759:Interleukin-23; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D008727:Methotrexate