eMedicineLive

According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Cardiology, patients suffering from psoriasis have to be extra careful regarding the health of their cardiovascular system. Researchers have found out that psoriasis is not just confined to skin. Patients suffering from it are more likely to suffer from blocked arteries and myocardial infarction. And the risk increases with the duration of the disease – the longer the patient has been suffering from psoriasis, the more are his chances of developing blocked arteries.

 

The researchers, led by Dr. April Armstrong from the University of California, analyzed the records of 9,473 patients who underwent coronary angiography from 2004 to 2009. It was noticed that around 204 of these patients had psoriasis. The researchers found that the psoriatic patients had a higher body mass index and higher levels of cholesterol compared to other patients. 84% suffering from psoriasis had narrowing of their blood vessels compared to 75% of patients who did not suffer from this condition. The mean duration of psoriasis in patients requiring cardiac catheterization was eight years. The researchers concluded that patients with psoriasis, especially those with disease duration of more than eight years, were more likely to suffer from coronary artery disease compared to those who did not suffer from the skin condition.

 

Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease in which the patient has patches of thick red scaly skin, as the immune system of the patient fails to recognize its own cells. Now, researchers feel that the skin rashes may be a sign of inflammation inside the body. The patients of psoriasis have been advised to modify their life style in a manner which is healthier for their cardiovascular system. They should also undergo screening tests to detect coronary artery disease, at regular intervals.

 

References:

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