Psoriasis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Psoriasis, including details on treatment, prevention, medication, causes.

Heart disease in psoriasis.

Kremers HM, McEvoy MT, Dann FJ, Gabriel SE

Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. maradit@mayo.edu

Psoriasis has been traditionally viewed as an inflammatory skin disorder of unknown origin. Recent advances in the immunopathogenesis and genetics of psoriasis have broadened our understanding of psoriasis. Psoriasis is now considered a systemic inflammatory condition analogous to other inflammatory immune disorders. Patients with other immune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, are known to be at increased risk of heart disease. Similarly, patients with psoriasis may carry an excess risk of heart disease, which would represent an important previously unrecognized cause of morbidity and mortality. This review summarizes the current evidence for an increased cardiovascular risk in patients with psoriasis and outlines deficits in our knowledge in this area.

Published 19 July 2007 in J Am Acad Dermatol, 57(2): 347-54.
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