A Combinational Therapy for Patients with Severe Psoriasis Associated with Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Background:

Psoriasis a chronic inflammatory disease of skin often involving the joints associated with concomitant factors like cardiovascular involvement, leading to high mortality.

Objective:

Hence, we designed the study to know the effect of combinational therapy and the associated risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in psoriasis patients.

Methods:

120 psoriasis patients and 50 healthy individuals of both sexes between 25–65 years of age with severe psoriasis attending Chinese hospital during October 2009–November 2013 were included in the study. Patients were treated with methotrexate, acitretin, cyclosporine and also with combination therapy.

Results:

Patients experienced a reduced degree of lesions with combination therapy with 40% reduction or had complete normalization of the skin. Severe psoriasis patients are at high risk of mortality due to CVD with hazard ratio (HR) 1 · 57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1 · 26–1 ·96.

Conclusion:

Severe psoriasis is often associated with higher risk of cardiovascular death. A large scale prospective study is required for analyzing risk factors of CVD in psoriasis (PsA).

Key words

methotrexate - acitretin - cyclosporine - treatment

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