Susceptibility to Atherosclerosis in Patients With Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis as Determined by Carotid–Femoral (Aortic) Pulse-Wave Velocity Measurement (original) (raw)

2009, Revista española de cardiología

Introduction and objectives. In this study we analyzed the susceptibility to atherosclerosis of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) by determining the femoral-carotid pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is a measure of the viscoelastic properties of blood vessels. Methods. The study included 25 patients with psoriasis (age 18-63 years, 13 male), of whom 9 had arthritis, as well as 39 sex-and age-matched healthy control subjects (age 24-70 years, 25 male). The systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) of all participants were recorded and, in patients, skin lesions were assessed using the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). Arterial distensibility was determined by automatic carotid-femoral PWV measurement using the Complior Colson device. Results. Mean PWV, SBP and DBP were significantly higher in psoriatic patients than in control subjects (P=.036, P<.001, and P=.005, respectively). In PsA patients, the mean WHR, SBP, DBP and PWV were all significantly higher than in control subjects (P=.001, P=.031, P=.001, and P=.014, respectively). Conclusions. The carotid-femoral PWV is increased in patients with psoriasis and PsA.