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Worse Psoriasis, Less Healthy Arteries, Study Finds
Chronic skin disorder linked to increase risk for heart attack and stroke
Some had mild psoriasis -- a few patches on less than 3 percent of their skin. Severe cases involved patches covering more than 10 percent of the skin.
Despite severity, PET scans revealed that all participants with psoriasis had increased levels of inflammation in their blood vessels, the researchers said.
The worst psoriasis was associated with a 41 percent increase in blood vessel inflammation, compared with participants without psoriasis. The relationship between psoriasis and increased blood vessel inflammation didn't change much after accounting for other heart disease risk factors, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight and smoking, the study authors said.
Michael Siegel, director of research programs at the National Psoriasis Foundation, said patients should take psoriasis seriously and treat it appropriately.
"Even mild psoriasis carries a risk for heart problems," he said. Although it is not yet proven that treating psoriasis reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, there is enough evidence to suggest that patients should have their disease treated, Siegel said.
"There are systemic consequences to psoriasis and people with severe disease need to seek the most effective treatment possible," he said.
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