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Subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with chronic psoriasis

The presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was determined in 80 chronic psoriasis patients with no traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Fifty age- and gender-matched volunteers served as controls. Psoriasis patients had significantly increased carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) versus controls (P < 0.001) and cIMT positively correlated with age, disease duration and disease activity as measured by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (all P <= 0.001). Echocardiographic findings did not differ between patients and controls and no significant difference between cIMT and echocardiography was seen in psoriasis patients. Routine cardiovascular checkups would seem advisable in older patients with severe psoriasis (El-Mongy, S. et al. JEADV 2010, 24(6): 661).