Relationship between Psoriasis and Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease in 88 Japanese Patients

Abstract

Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease known to affect survival in the presence of cerebral or cardiovascular comorbidities. However, no clear guidelines have been defined regarding the extent of vascular lesion testing that should be performed in patients with psoriasis. We therefore performed coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in 88 Japanese patients with psoriasis who visited Kansai Medical University Hospital between 2015 and 2019 and determined the ankle–brachial pressure index (ABI) for 44 of these patients. CCTA abnormalities were found in 39 of the 88 patients, and a need for treatment was identified in 14 patients. The prevalence of cardiovascular lesions in these patients was 15.9%, significantly higher than that in the healthy Japanese population (6.38% according to the Suita Study). In the 44 patients with results for both ABI and CCTA, the rates of CCTA vascular lesions were significantly higher in cases with ABIs indicating hard vessels or above than in cases with supple, normal, or slightly stiff vessels. This is the first report to show a correlation between CCTA and ABI in psoriasis patients. ABI was considered useful as a preliminary test before CCTA. The univariate analysis of the abnormal and normal CCTA groups showed that the prevalence differed significantly among patients with psoriatic arthritis, erythrodermic psoriasis, older age, pre-existing conditions, drinking, and hypertension. The multivariate analysis showed correlations with arthritic or erythrodermic psoriasis.

Special Issue: “Skin Disease and Comorbidities”

“…CCTA abnormalities were identified and compared to healthy controls. In the patients with abnormal results for both ABI and CCTA, the rates of CCTA vascular lesions were significantly higher, also revealing a correlation between CCTA and ABI in psoriasis patients [13].…”

The Correlation between the Vascular Calcification Score of the Coronary Artery and the Abdominal Aorta in Patients with Psoriasis

“…Using CCTA, we previously reported that cardiovascular abnormalities were more common in 88 Japanese patients with psoriasis before the use of biologic agents than in healthy controls [8]. However, CCTA is not a simple test, even though it is effective in detecting cardiovascular involvement in psoriasis.…”

“…The blood coronary arteries and abdominal aorta in particular have been measured in a few studies to shed light on the most vulnerable areas that might lead to sudden all-cause death as well as cause-specific death [5][6][7]. Using CCTA, we previously reported that cardiovascular abnormalities were more common in 88 Japanese patients with psoriasis before the use of biologic agents than in healthy controls [8]. However, CCTA is not a simple test, even though it is effective in detecting cardiovascular involvement in psoriasis.…”

Prevention and risk assessment of cardiovascular events in a population of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

“…This is followed by the formation of an atherosclerotic plaque that causes reduction or closure of blood flow through the vessel (usually by plaque rupture), leading to myocardial infarction or stroke (Figs. 2, 3) [28].…”