Psoriasis and Fat around the Heart

Epicardial fat thickness is independently associated with psoriasis.
Akyildiz ZI, Seremet S, Emren V, Ozcelik S, Gediz B, Tastan A, Nazlı C.
Dermatology. 2014;228(1):55-9. doi: 10.1159/000354726. Epub 2013 Oct 18.

• Psoriasis is associated with heart problems mainly through risk factors, altogether named “metabolic syndrome” (MS): abdominal (central) obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting plasma glucose, high serum triglycerides, and low high-density cholesterol (HDL) levels).
• This study shows that fat (adipose tissue) around the heart (epicarial fat, EF), also appears to be associated with psoriasis.
• Epicardial fat is known to be associated with fat in the abdominal cavity, coronary heart disease, subclinical atherosclerosis and MS.
• In this study, echocardiography (ultrasound) was performed in 31 patients with psoriasis as well as 32 controls.
• Results show that the thickness of the epicardial fat was higher (in a statistically significant way) in patients with psoriasis. (Statistical analysis concluded that this was independant from other cardiovascular risk factors such as MS and age)

• Conclusion: epicardial fat tissue is associated with psoriasis as it is with cardiovascular problems.

Contributors

Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland