28 Aug Psoriasis: Case Study Finds Weight Loss Drug Semaglutide Reduced Fat Around Heart

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Malavazos

Dr. Alexis Elias Malavazos
Endocrinology Unit
Clinical Nutrition and Cardiovascular Prevention Service,
IRCCS Policlinico
Unit of Radiology, IRCCS Policlinico
San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Italy

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease often associated with obesity and type-2 diabetes (T2D). The inflammatory process of psoriasis can target adipose tissue depots, particularly those surrounding the heart and the coronary arteries, exposing them to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response:  Our case report shows a consistent reduction in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) inflammation, concomitant with a relevant and persistent improvement in psoriasis outcomes in response to semaglutide therapy, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, in a patient affected by abdominal obesity and T2D with a low cardiovascular risk according to traditional risk scores.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: The main finding of our case report is the use of EAT and PCAT attenuation, assessed by routine coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), as biomarkers of inflammation and to track the response to anti-inflammatory therapies, such as semaglutide, for cardiometabolic and skin diseases, given their shared inflammatory properties and pathogenic similarities.

The actions of semaglutide to reduce energy intake, improve glycaemic control, and produce effective weight loss, particularly at the visceral fat depot level, can diminish adipose tissue dysfunction, reduce EAT attenuation and PCAT attenuation of the right coronary artery, and thus their inflammation, and concomitantly improve the clinical severity of psoriasis plaques.

Semaglutide therapy, may be considered in psoriasis patients affected by T2D and abdominal obesity, despite low cardiovascular risk according to traditional risk scores, who are resistant to biologic therapies.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?

Response: Future researches on larger populations may confirm the role of semaglutide in psoriasis and in the improvement of the associated epicardial fat inflammation.

Citation: Malavazos AE, Meregalli C, Sorrentino F, Vignati A, Dubini C, Scravaglieri V, Basilico S, Boniardi F, Spagnolo P, Malagoli P, Romanelli P, Secchi F, Iacobellis G. Semaglutide therapy decreases epicardial fat inflammation and improves psoriasis severity in patients affected by abdominal obesity and type-2 diabetes. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2023 Aug 8;2023(3):23-0017. doi: 10.1530/EDM-23-0017. PMID: 37551923; PMCID: PMC10448542.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37551923/

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Last Updated on August 28, 2023 by Marie Benz