American Journal of Medicine to publish International Psoriasis Council article outlining evidence how psoriasis may be linked to cardiometabolic diseases

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mounting evidence that patients with psoriasis are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and metabolic diseases ("cardiometabolic diseases") is the subject of an article to be published in the December 2014 issue of the American Journal of Medicine.

The article, titled "Accumulating Evidence for the Association and Shared Pathogenic Mechanisms between Psoriasis and Cardiometabolic Diseases," was written by seven councilors of the International Psoriasis Council (IPC), a global nonprofit focused on psoriasis research, education and patient care. The article is a summary of the November 2013 meeting of the IPC Think Tank, an annual gathering of global psoriasis experts to discuss the most pressing issues facing the understanding and treatment of that disease.

At the meeting, a global panel of dermatology, immunology and cardiovascular specialists discussed the status of research investigating the potential association of psoriasis with various cardiometabolic-related comorbidities.

Summarizing these discussions, the American Journal of Medicine article explores the potential shared pathogenic mechanisms, genetic connectivity and inflammatory links between psoriasis and various cardiometabolic diseases such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

"It is highly unique to have expert perspectives from a multitude of disciplines at once. These types of interactions accelerate our understanding of the association between various cardiometabolic conditions and psoriasis," said Dr. Nehal N. Mehta, an expert in cardiometabolic diseases who is a co-author of the article. "Based on the evidence presented and outlined at this symposium, the link between psoriasis and cardiometabolic diseases demonstrates strong mechanistic ties, however definitive evidence still is elusive. More studies are needed to better understand this association."

Among the conclusions made and identified in the manuscript:

• There is a need to elucidate the link between psoriasis and cardiometabolic pathophysiologic mechanisms in order to better manage the psoriasis patient.
• Identification of shared pathways through transcriptome studies (studying RNA) and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is shifting the psoriasis model to one that is analogous to other systemic pro-inflammatory states, such as atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome.
• Novel imaging techniques may be pivotal in identifying and quantifying inflammation in psoriasis and cardiometabolic disease.
• Models of inflammation in healthy human subjects have illustrated a pro-inflammatory state characterized by large increases of cytokines that also are prominent in psoriasis, including TNF-a. These subjects showed temporary biochemical changes consistent with those found in cardiometabolic diseases, suggesting that inflammation does precede disease.
• Prospective studies in patients starting at 30 years of age to monitor the development of metabolic diseases in psoriasis may be the only definitive way to better understand the temporal relationships between these two diseases.

"The Think Tank, resulting in the article, exemplifies IPC's mission to bring together leaders in psoriasis thereby advancing our understanding of this disease," said Prof. Christopher Griffiths, University of Manchester, UK, and IPC President.

Article available ahead of print http://bit.ly/comorabstract

Visit http://www.psoriasiscouncil.org/news_comorbid.htm to read the full release.

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