12 Oct Psoriasis Increases Blood Vessel Inflammation and Heart Disease Risk

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Nehal Mehta, M.D., M.S.C.E., F.A.H.A.
Lasker Clinical Research Scholar
Section of Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Diseases
NIH

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Mehta: Psoriasis increases cardiovascular disease (CVD), and this study shows for the first time that the amount of psoriasis on the skin is mirrored in the blood vessels by increasing blood vessel inflammation.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Mehta: Even one plaque may be too many if we are seeing a relationship between skin disease severity and vascular inflammation.

Psoriasis

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Mehta: All patients with psoriasis should be checked for hypertension, fasting sugar and cholesterol as well as obesity. Ongoing research will inform whether aggressive treatment of the skin disease ameliorates vascular inflammation.

Citation:

Severity of Psoriasis Associates With Aortic Vascular Inflammation Detected by FDG PET/CT and Neutrophil Activation in a Prospective Observational Study

Haley B. Naik, Balaji Natarajan, Elena Stansky, Mark A. Ahlman, Heather Teague, Taufiq Salahuddin, Qimin Ng, Aditya A. Joshi, Parasuram Krishnamoorthy, Jenny Dave, Shawn M. Rose, Julia Doveikis, Martin P. Playford, Ronald B. Prussick, Alison Ehrlich, Mariana J. Kaplan, Benjamin N. Lockshin, Joel M. Gelfand, and Nehal N. Mehta

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2015;ATVBAHA.115.306460published online before print October 8 2015, doi:10.1161/ATVBAHA.115.306460

Nehal Mehta, M.D., M.S.C.E., F.A.H.A. (2015). Psoriasis Increases Blood Vessel Inflammation and Heart Disease Risk 

Last Updated on October 12, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD