Research: Psoriasis Connected to Increased Cardiovascular Risk – Triglycerides Crucial Factor
Patients with psoriasis who have elevated triglycerides have a significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Monitoring blood triglyceride levels is therefore of great importance for people with psoriasis, as it can help in the early detection and prevention of cardiovascular problems.
This is shown by a new regional study conducted in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montenegro, the Clinical Centre of Montenegro, the Clinical Centre of Niš, and the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University in Turkey.
People with psoriasis are at a higher risk of heart and blood vessel diseases. Psoriasis and atherosclerosis share common mechanisms — chronic inflammation and oxidative stress (cell damage caused by increased production of free radicals).
The study examined cardiovascular risk in patients with psoriasis in relation to markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and classical metabolic parameters (lipid profile, blood glucose levels).
A total of 68 patients with psoriasis (57% male) participated in the study. Measured parameters included traditional ones: cholesterol, triglycerides, and other blood lipids, glucose levels, transaminases; oxidative stress markers: AOPP (advanced oxidation protein products), MDA (products of lipid peroxidation), catalase and superoxide dismutase (enzymes of antioxidant defence); and the inflammation marker — C-reactive protein.
The risk of cardiovascular diseases was assessed using the ASCVD score (higher score = higher risk), and patients were divided into three groups according to their score values.
Patients with higher risk had lower HDL (“good” cholesterol), higher triglyceride (TG) levels, and a higher TG/HDL ratio. Among oxidative stress markers, AOPP was significantly associated with higher ASCVD scores (cardiovascular risk).
In further analysis, TG levels emerged as an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk.
The findings indicate that monitoring triglycerides is particularly important in individuals with psoriasis and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The results support an integrated approach to psoriasis treatment, which, in addition to controlling skin changes, also includes the assessment of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors.
This study was authored by Dr. Vesna Karanikolić (Clinical Center Niš), Dr. Mirjana Bakić and Dr. Sanja Gluščević (Clinical Center of Montenegro), Dr. Filiz Mercantepe (Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Turkey), and Dr. Aleksandra Klisić (University of Montenegro), and was published in the Journal of Medical Biochemistry.
(The paper was selected from the list of scientific works of the University of Montenegro.)