title: Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with higher carotid intima-media thickness in psoriatic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis has been associated with vitamin D insufficiency and cardiovascular risk factors. Reports show that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels are inversely associated with chronic inflammatory systemic diseases, cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (maximal intima-media thickness (MIMT)) in psoriasis patients and controls. MIMT was compared and associated factors were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control study with 44 psoriatic patients without arthritis from a Dermatology outpatient clinic in Granada (Spain) and 44 controls. Confounding factors related to 25-OHD serum levels and cardiovascular risk factors were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  25-OHD levels were significantly lower in the psoriatic than in the control group (29.20 vs. 38.00 ng/mL p<0.0001) and a significant negative correlation was found between serum 25-OHD levels and the MIMT (rs=-0.678, p<0.0001) in psoriatic patients. No correlation was found in healthy controls. This association remained after adjusting for confounders. Serum 25-OHD levels were significantly lower (p=0.003) in psoriatic patients with carotid atheromatous plaque (22.38±10.23 ng/mL) than in those without (31.74±8.62 ng/mL). Patients with a longer history of psoriasis presented significantly higher MIMT than controls (638.70±76.21 vs 594.67±80.20 μm; p=0.026 for ≥6 yrs with psoriasis).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In psoriasis patients, lower serum 25-OHD levels were associated with higher MIMT after adjusting for selected confounding factors. The MIMT risk increases with a longer history of psoriasis, regardless of the patient's age.
authors: Dermatology Department.
authors: Jacinto
authors: J
authors: Orgaz-Molina
authors: Rheumatology Department.
authors: Cesar
authors: C
authors: Magro-Checa
authors: Rheumatology Department.
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Rosales-Alexander
authors: School of Medicine.
authors: Miguel A
authors: MA
authors: Arrabal-Polo
authors: Radiology Department, University Hospital of San Cecilio, Av. Doctor Oloriz s/n, Granada (Spain).
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Castellote-Caballero
authors: School of Medicine.
authors: Agustin
authors: A
authors: Buendía-Eisman
authors: Rheumatology Department.
authors: Enriqué
authors: E
authors: Raya-Álvarez
authors: Dermatology Department,, School of Medicine.
authors: Salvador
authors: S
authors: Arias-Santiago
mesh_terms: D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; cardiovascular risk factors; carotid artery atherosclerosis; psoriasis; vitamin D