Psoriasis is associated with increased intima–media thickness—The Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)

Angiopoietin-2, its soluble receptor Tie-2 and subclinical cardiovascular disease in a population-based sample

“…Measurements of cardiac and vascular structure and function were done by standardised ultrasound examinations as described in detail elsewhere 14–17. In brief, the examination of the extracranial carotid arteries was performed with B-mode ultrasound using a high-resolution instrument (Diasonics VST Gateway, Santa Clara, USA) 17. The mean far-wall IMT was calculated from 10 measurements taken in 1 mm steps from scans of the distal straight portion of both common carotid arteries.…”

“…Atherosclerotic plaques were defined as any focal thickening of the intima-media complex protruding into the vessel lumen and/or as a focal increase of echogenicity with a homogeneously hyperechoic echotexture within an otherwise hypoechoic intima-media complex. Both carotid arteries were divided into 4 segments: the common carotid artery, the carotid bulb (i.e., the segment between the first visible enlargement of the common carotid artery and the flow divider), the internal and the external carotid artery 17. The variable ‘number of carotid plaques’ was defined as the number of arterial segments affected by at least one atherosclerotic plaque (with a minimum number of 0 and a maximum number of 8 segments) 18…”

Impact of Systemic Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases on apoA-I and HDL Plasma Levels and Functions

“…Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the activation of lymphocytes, particularly Th1 and Th17, monocytes/macrophages, and dendritic cells and to the high cytokine content typical of psoriatic lesions. Psoriasis is associated with increased incidence of stroke and CVD ) and with increased mean carotid IMT (Troitzsch et al 2012). The mechanism behind such associations is still unknown.…”

Psoriasis and Cardiovascular Disease: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

“…[43][44][45] Comparisons between almost 2000 individuals with and without psoriasis showed increased common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in patients with psoriasis compared to controls. 46 Other data support that patients with psoriasis have a higher prevalence and degree of coronary calcification score, and therefore coronary atherosclerosis, compared to controls. 47 In the same study, cIMT was significantly greater in patients with psoriasis than in controls.…”