title: Association Between Changes in Coronary Artery Disease Progression and Treatment With Biologic Agents for Severe Psoriasis.
abstract: Inflammatory pathways of psoriasis share similarities with the mechanisms identified in atherosclerosis, and the association between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease due to accelerated coronary artery disease is well established. The effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on the development of coronary atherosclerosis remains essentially unknown.
  
  
  
  To investigate the association of biological therapy with changes in coronary artery disease progression, measured by repeated coronary computed tomography (CT).
  
  
  
  This single-center prospective, controlled, observer-blinded clinical study at a tertiary dermatology university hospital clinic enrolled patients with severe psoriasis initiating biological therapy and matched controls not receiving systemic therapy from April 11, 2011, through June 30, 2014.
  
  
  
  Biological therapy approved for psoriasis (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, ustekinumab) with the possibility to switch between treatments to ensure tight control of inflammation.
  
  
  
  Patients underwent noncontrast coronary artery calcium (CAC) CT and contrast-enhanced coronary CT angiography at baseline and after 13 months of follow-up. Changes in CAC score, number of coronary plaques, severity of narrowing, composition, and vessel wall volume were measured.
  
  
  
  There were 28 treated patients (mean [SD] age, 49.2 [10.2] years; 71% men; mean [SD] Psoriasis Area Severity Index [PASI], 15.4 [4.3]) and 28 controls (mean [SD] age, 52.8 [10.6] years; 71% men; mean [SD] PASI, 12.4 [3.9]). The CAC scores remained stable in the intervention group (mean [SD] yearly CAC change, -16 [56]; P = .15) and progressed in the control group (14 [29]; P = .02) (intervention vs controls: P = .02). The number of segments with luminal abnormalities remained unchanged in both groups. The severity of luminal narrowing in the diseased segments was unchanged in the intervention group (Wilcoxon W = 76, n = 483, P = .39) but increased at follow-up in the control group (Wilcoxon W = 281, n = 414, P = .02). Automated vessel wall volume index remained unchanged from baseline to follow-up in the intervention group (mean [SD] baseline, 7.1 [1.5], follow-up, 7.1 [1.7]; P = .91), while controls demonstrated statistically nonsignificant progression (baseline, 8.3 [1.6], follow-up, 8.9 [2.2]; P = .06).
  
  
  
  Clinically effective treatment with biologic agents was associated with reduced coronary artery disease progression in patients with severe psoriasis. These findings support a beneficial effect of biologic anti-inflammatory agents in preventing cardiovascular disease progression in addition to disease control in inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kasper Fjellhaugen
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hjuler
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiac Imaging Center, Hospital Unit West, Herning, Denmark.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bøttcher
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vestergaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hans Erik
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Bøtker
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Knud
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kragballe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001685:Biological Factors; D003879:Dermatologic Agents