Increased serum leptin and resistin levels and increased carotid intima-media wall thickness in patients with psoriasis: is psoriasis associated with atherosclerosis?

Abstract

Background: Patients with psoriasis may have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the potential association between subclinical atherosclerosis and psoriasis by measuring the intima-media wall thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) in patients with psoriasis and evaluating its correlation with serum leptin and resistin levels.

Methods: The mean IMT (MIMT) of the CCA and leptin, resistin, triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol levels in serum were determined in 60 patients and 60 healthy sex- and age-matched control subjects.

Results: Compared with the healthy control subjects, patients with psoriasis had significantly higher MIMT of the CCA and higher levels of serum leptin, resistin, TG, and total cholesterol. In addition, MIMT of the CCA was positively correlated with serum leptin, resistin, TG, and total cholesterol levels in patients with psoriasis.

Limitations: This was a cross-sectional single-center study, and we could not evaluate additional biomarkers such as adipokine or adiponectin because of our restricted facilities.

Conclusion: Although serum leptin, resistin, TG, and total cholesterol levels and MIMT of the CCA were significantly increased in patients with psoriasis, MIMT of the CCA was also positively correlated with these biomarkers. Therefore, psoriasis could be an independent risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis.

Keywords: common carotid artery wall thickness; leptin; psoriasis; resistin; subclinical atherosclerosis; ultrasound.