Psoriasis may up heart disease risk

Patients with severe forms of the skin condition psoriasis may be at an increased risk of developing heart disease, doctors have said.

Psoriasis is a skin condition that affects an estimated 100,000 people in Ireland. It appears as pink or red raised patches on the skin, known as plaques. These plaques have a scaly surface and can be large or small.

According to doctors in the US, there is now strong evidence that people with psoriasis are at an increased risk of coronary artery disease, which is a narrowing of the arteries. This can lead to a heart attack and other complications.

Writing in the American Journal of Cardiology, an expert panel of cardiologists, dermatologists and scientists called for a new standard of care for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. They said that these patients should receive evaluation and possible treatment to reduce their risk of developing coronary artery disease.

"Based on the evolving science, we recommend that patients with moderate to severe psoriasis be educated about the association of psoriasis and cardiovascular disease and that these patients receive appropriate screening and treatment of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors,” said Dr Joel Gelfand, a dermatologist with the University of Pennsylvania.

According to the doctors, an explanation for the link between psoriasis and coronary artery disease is not yet clear, however a leading candidate is inflammation.

The experts emphasised that, regardless of the cause, the current evidence is strong enough to recommend that doctors assess heart disease risk in their patients with psoriasis. Some of the key recommendations they make include:
•Informing patients with moderate to severe psoriasis that they are at an increased risk of coronary artery disease and performing a medical evaluation to assess cardiovascular risk. For patients with milder psoriasis, evaluation is recommended if other heart disease risk factors are present, such as obesity or high blood pressure.
•Prescribing treatment to reduce high cholesterol levels and other risk factors, if present.
•Paying close attention to possible interactions or adverse effects of the medications used to treat psoriasis.

For more information on psoriasis, see…http://www.irishhealth.com/clin/psor/

For more information on heart health, see…http://www.heart.ie

[Posted: Sat 20/12/2008]