Biologic Psoriasis Treatment Improves Coronary Plaque Indices

Psoriasis patients who receive biologic therapy may improve their coronary plaque profiles, according to a prospective, observational study.

“Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease often treated with biologics when severe, is associated with increased risk of [myocardial infarction], in part driven by high-risk coronary plaque phenotypes by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA),” the study authors wrote. “We hypothesized that we would observe a reduction in inflammatory-driven phenotypes of coronary plaque, including non-calcified coronary plaque burden and lipid-rich necrotic core in those treated with biologic therapy after one-year compared with non-biologic therapy.”

The analysis included 121 consecutive patients who had not received biologic treatment. Mean patient age was 50.5 years, and the majority (58%) were male; cardiovascular risk was low, based on a median 3 Framingham score. Skin disease at baseline was moderate to severe; median Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) was 8.6. A reader who was not aware of patient demographics, visit, and treatment evaluated total coronary plaque burden as well as calcified and non-calcified plaque subcomponents in the three main coronary vessels larger than 2 mm.