European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals, influenced by various endogenous and exogenous transducing factors. Objectives: The present study was aimed to assess the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors such as, the pattern of dyslipidaemia and body fat deposition with insulin resistance in Psoriatic patients. Methods: Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured in 40 psoriaitic patients against matched controls. Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), Triglyceride (TG), Cholesterol(CHOL), Low density lipoprotein(LDL), Very low density lipoprotein(VLDL), High density lipoprotein(HDL), hsCRP were measured by spectrophotometry. Homocysteine was measured by immune fluroscene technology. Insulin resistance was assessed by measuring the HOMA-IR values. Results: FBG, HDL and WC between this two groups were statistically not significant (p value=0.271, 0.21 and 0.72 respectively). On the other hand, BMI, HOMA-IR, TG, CHOL, LDL, VLDL, hsCRP and Homocysteine levels were significantly higher in the case group (p<0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis showed HOMA-IR to be significantly associated with FBG, BMI, WC, Total CHOL and LDL (but not with VLDL, TG and HDL, hsCRP and Homocysteine values). Conclusions: Mainly an increased insulin resistance that is directly related to significantly elevated levels of abdominal obesity and LDL cholesterol levels reflects metabolic derangements in psoriatic patients in this region. We suggest regular monitoring of psoriatic patients for these parameters to avoid the impending cardiovascular risks in them.