Background The effect of adalimumab and fumaric acid esters (FAE) on the cardiovascular risk associated with psoriasis has only been investigated scarcely in randomized controlled studies. Objective The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled head‐to‐head trial was to compare the influence of adalimumab and FAE on cardiovascular disease markers in psoriasis patients. Methods Sixty‐five patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were randomly assigned to adalimumab or FAE treatment for 6 months. Cardiovascular haemodynamic parameters [flow‐mediated dilation (FMD), nitro‐glycerine mediated dilation (NMD) and carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT), blood pressure] were assessed at baseline (v0) and after 6 months (v6). Cutaneous disease severity, inflammatory and lipid cardiovascular risk markers were analysed at baseline(v0), after 3 (v3) and 6 months (v6). Results After 6 months of treatment FMD in the adalimumab group increased significantly [v0 5.9% (6.4% SD), v6 8.0% (4.8% SD), P = 0.048) but not in the FAE group. (v0 7.0% (4.1% SD), v6 8.4% (6.1% SD), P = 0.753]. This was paralleled by a significant decrease of high sensitive C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) in the adalimumab group in comparison to the FAE group (v0: 0.39 mg/dL (0.38 SD), v6: 0.39 mg/dL (0.48 SD), P = 0.043). No significant changes were observed in any other haemodynamic parameters. FAE, however, additionally decreased total cholesterol (P = 0.046) and apolipoprotein B (P = 0.041) levels compared to adalimumab. Mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (psoriasis area severity score) reduction was greater but not significant (P = 0.116) under adalimumab treatment compared to FAE treatment [−71.1% (29.9 SD) vs. −54.6% (45.7%)]. Conclusion In our study, both treatments were documented to exert effects on the cardiovascular system. While adalimumab showed anti‐inflammatory effects and improved FMD, FAE interacted favourably with the cholesterol metabolism.

Summary:The numbers of endovascular procedures have been noted to substantially increase over the past two decades. Besides all the technical advances and the increasing skills of more and more trained interventionists, the vascular access site still offers the possibilities and carries the risk of access site complications, which have not been changed dramatically over the past years. Guidelines on the vascular puncture procedure itself are lacking. Complications at different vascular access sites presentclinically different, require different diagnostic work up and therapy. The aim of the following review is to systematically list the most likely vascular access site complications their diagnosis and if necessary the proper treatment.

SummaryBackgroundWe hypothesize that stenting of the internal carotid artery can immediately impede blood flow to the external carotid artery by either plaque shift or stent coverage of the ostium, and thereby cause ischemic symptoms like ipsilateral jaw claudication.MethodsThirty-three patients with high-grade asymptomatic stenosis of the internal carotid artery who underwent endovascular treatment were examined by ultrasound of the external carotid artery and performed an exercise test by chewing chewing gum synchronously to an electronic metronome for 3 min. Tests were performed before, the day after, and 1 week after the stenting procedure. Claudication time was defined as the timespan until occurrence of pain of the masseter muscle and/or chewing dyssynchrony to the metronome for more than 15 s. Ten patients with an isolated, atherosclerotic stenosis of the external carotid artery served as controls.ResultsA significantly reduced claudication time (in seconds) was recorded in patients who underwent carotid artery stenting compared to baseline values; median 89 (interquartile range, IQR, 57 to 124) vs. median 180 (IQR 153 to 180; p < 0.001). By categorization of the flow velocity at the external carotid artery into faster or slower as 200 cm/sec, the effect was even accentuated. Stenting values showed improvement 1 week after but did not return to baseline levels. No respective changes were found in controls.ConclusionStenting of the internal carotid artery lead to ipsilateral flow deterioration at the external carotid artery resulting in temporary jaw claudication. This impairment attenuated over the time and was significantly reduced after 1 week.