To evaluate the feasibility of using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomographycomputed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) to detect and quantify systemic inflammation in patients with psoriasis.Design: Case series with a nested case-control study.Setting: Referral dermatology and preventive cardiology practices.Participants: Six patients with psoriasis affecting more than 10% of their body surface area and 4 controls age and sex matched to 4 of the patients with psoriasis for a nested case-control study. Main Outcome Measures:The FDG uptake in the liver, musculoskeletal structures, and aorta measured by mean standardized uptake value, a measure of FDG tracer uptake by macrophages and other inflammatory cells.Results: FDG-PET/CT identified numerous foci of inflammation in 6 patients with psoriasis within the skin, liver, joints, tendons, and aorta. Inflammation in the joints

Background There is substantial need to rigorously evaluate existing and new therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and other severe and relatively rare conditions affecting younger patients. However, the ability to conduct meaningful randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in such contexts often is limited by difficulties obtaining adequate patient enrollment. Purpose To understand the motivations of patients with PAH for participating in RCTs so as to facilitate enrollment in future trials among patients with similar diseases. Methods We conducted semistructured interviews of a diverse sample of patients with World Health Organization (WHO) Group I PAH. We purposefully recruited a diverse sample of participants until theoretical saturation was reached. We randomly assigned patients to review hypothetical RCTs that did or did not allow continuation of background PAH therapies and elicited their reasons for or against enrolling. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using constant comparison techniques to code and sort data into discrete themes. Results The 26 PAH patients enrolled before theoretical saturation was reached identified 24 factors that would influence their RCT enrollment decisions. These factors grouped naturally into four themes: (1) personal medical benefits, (2) personal medical risks/harms, (3) nonmedical benefits, and (4) nonmedical burdens. Personal benefits were cited as commonly as altruistic motives. One third of the patients (9/26) suggested that they would defer enrollment decisions to their treating clinicians. Seventy-nine percent of patients (11/14) assigned to consider trials without background therapies expressed concerns about clinical deterioration (vs. 17% (2/12) among patients assigned to consider trials allowing background therapies). Limitations The sample was recruited from a single academic center. Furthermore, the use of hypothetical trials may not elicit identical decision-making processes as may be used among patients contemplating actual trial participation. Conclusion For PAH patients considering RCT enrollment, the potentials for personal benefit and risk are at least as important as altruistic motives. Minimizing the time demands of participating, financial remuneration, and allowing participants to continue current therapies are factors, which might enhance enrollment to trials in similar disease areas.

No abstract

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We have previously shown that psoriasis is associated with atherogenic lipoprotein particle concentration and size. However, it is unknown whether this association is independent of traditional CVD risk factors or insulin resistance (IR). Methods: We prospectively enrolled a consecutive sample of patients with psoriasis (n=122) and compared cardiometabolic risk factors with an asymptomatic sample without psoriasis from our practice (n=129). Fasting lipids, insulin, glucose were measured by standard assays, and lipoprotein concentration and size were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (LipoScience, North Carolina). HOMA-IR, an estimation of IR, was calculated by standard methods. Multivariable linear regression for adjusted models was performed using STATA12 software. Results: LDL-C and HDL-C were lower in psoriasis compared to controls [106.9 mg/dL (90-132.5) vs 128 (110.2-145.6), p<0.01 and 43 mg/dL (36-58) vs 50 (42-62), p<0.01] with no difference in triglycerides. However, NMR showed an atherogenic profile in psoriasis similar to that observed in diabetes, with significant increase in LDL [1210.5 (1002-1498) vs 1115 (935-1291), p=0.03] particle concentration with a concomitant decrease in LDL size [20.6 (20.3-21.1) vs 21.3 (20.6-21.1), p<0.001] even after adjusting for obesity, tobacco use, hypertension, lipids, and HOMA-IR (p=0.001). An increase in VLDL particle concentration was also seen before [61.9 (38.3-95.3) vs 53.4 (30.4-84.5), p=0.05] and after adjusting for cardiometabolic risk factors (p=0.018). Conclusions: Despite normal lipids, we demonstrate a more atherogenic lipoprotein profile by NMR in psoriasis compared to healthy controls after adjustment for CVD risk factors and IR. These findings suggest that traditional risk factor analysis and lipid testing may not ideally capture the increased CVD risk observed in psoriasis.