One thing that we know about psoriatic disease (a term that refers to both psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis) is that is linked to a heightened risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality and morbidity. However, there is plenty of research that can be done on the specifics of this possible complication. In fact, a study recently published in Arthritis & Rheumatology did just this by identifying two proteins that can be used as biomarkers to judge CV health in psoriatic disease patients.
About the Study
1,000 psoriatic disease patients participated in this study, 358 of which had their carotid total plaque area (TPA) measured at baseline. Researchers were focusing in on the proteins N-terminal pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac high-sensitivity troponin I (cTnI) specifically. They wanted to see if there was a correlation between these two proteins and cardiovascular events independent of each patient’s Framingham Risk Score (FRS), along with carotid plaque burden.
Upon univariate analyses, results include:
- Both proteins (NT-proBNP and cTnI) were found to have a connection with TPA
However, this changed when researchers made an adjustment to the study to account for cardiovascular risk factors. cTnI was still associated to TPA, but this association was lost with NT-proBNP. Now, with this adjustment in place, results were:
- 64 of 1,000 participants experienced incident cardiovascular events
- When measured through cardiac ultrasound, there was an independent association between cTnI and the burden of atherosclerosis
- There was no improvement in the FRS prediction of CV events in psoriatic disease patients when either biomarker was added into consideration
- Higher levels of NT-proBNP and cTnI were linked to a higher risk of future development of CV events independent of the traditional risk factors
- This association was found to be stronger in males than it was females
This research produced very interesting results, and as it is the first of its kind, further research is necessary.
Find the source article here.
