title: Increased global arterial and subcutaneous adipose tissue inflammation in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is associated with cardiovascular disease; it has been proposed that increased cardiovascular risk is caused by low-grade systemic inflammation involving organs and tissues other than the skin and joints.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate signs of vascular inflammation in untreated patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis assessed by18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography. A secondary objective was to assess signs of subcutaneous adipose tissue inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational, controlled clinical study including patients with psoriasis (n = 12, mean ± SD age 61·4 ± 4·1 years, 83% men, mean ± SD Psoriasis Area Severity Index score 14·5 ± 4·3) and matched controls (n = 23, mean ± SD age 60·4 ± 4·5 years, 87% men). Vascular inflammation was measured using aortic maximal standardized uptake values (SUVmax) and the target-to-background ratio (TBRmax) of the whole vessel and aortic segments. Subcutaneous adipose tissue inflammation was assessed and compared with regard to SUVmaxand TBRmax.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Arterial inflammation was increased in patients with psoriasis vs. controls (mean ± SD whole vessel TBRmax2·46 ± 0·31 vs. 2·09 ± 0·36; P = 0·005). In patients with psoriasis, higher FDG uptake values were observed for all aortic segments except the ascending aorta. Subcutaneous adipose tissue FDG uptake was increased in patients with psoriasis vs. controls (mean ± SD TBRmax0·49 ± 0·18 vs. 0·31 ± 0·12; P = 0·002). Associations remained significant after adjusting for body mass index and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Global arterial inflammation and subcutaneous inflammation were significantly increased in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis compared with controls.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: K F
authors: KF
authors: Hjuler
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: L C
authors: LC
authors: Gormsen
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Vendelbo
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Egeberg
authors: Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Nielsen
authors: Department of Dermatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Iversen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001025:Aortitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015434:Panniculitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18