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Background and aims In patients with psoriasis, the chronic exposure to systemic inflammation can result in coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). In this self-controlled, prospective pilot study, we investigated whether a long-term treatment with TNF-α inhibitors effective against skin symptoms also improves coronary flow reserve in psoriasis patients (CFR). Methods We prospectively studied 37 consecutive psoriasis patients (31 male; age, 37.7 ± 8.5 years) without cardiovascular disease, before and after anti-TNF-α treatment. CFR in the left anterior descending coronary artery was detected by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, at rest and during adenosine infusion. CFR was the ratio of hyperemic to resting diastolic flow velocity. A CFR ≤ 2.5 was considered a marker of CMD. Psoriasis was assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). High sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and serum TNF-α were assessed. Results Overall, CFR increased from 2.2 ± 0.7 to 3.02 ± 0.8 ( p < 0.0001) after TNF-α inhibitors therapy. In patients with CMD, CFR increased from 1.88 ± 0.3 to 2.74 ± 0.5 ( p < 0.0001). In patients with normal CFR, CFR increased from 3.0 ± 0.5 to 3.7 ± 0.9 ( p = 0.08). CFR improvement after TNF-α inhibitors treatment was correlated with hs-CRP and TNF-α reduction ( p = 0.004 and p = 0.02, respectively), but not with change in PASI ( p = 0.5). Conclusions The present study demonstrates that TNF-α inhibitors treatment ameliorates CMD in patients with established psoriasis not responding to long-term conventional therapy. These findings suggest that a therapy specifically targeted against inflammation is able to positively affect coronary microvascular function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of psoriasis (Pso) on coronary microvascular function and whether there is a relationship between disease activity scores and coronary blood flow abnormalities. Methods: 56 young patients (pts) with Pso (42 M, aged 37±3 years) without clinical evidence of cardiovascular diseases, and 56 controls matched for age and gender were studied. Coronary flow velocity in the left anterior descending coronary artery was detected by transthoracic echocardiography at rest and during adenosine infusion. Coronary flow reserve (CFR) was the ratio of hyperaemic diastolic flow velocity (DFV) to resting DFV. A CFR≤2.5 was considered abnormal. Results: In pts with Pso, CFR was lower than in controls (3.2±0.9 vs. 3.7±0.7, p =0.02). CFR was abnormal (≤2.5) in 12 pts (22% vs. 0% controls, p <0.0001). Moreover, in pts with CFR≤2.5, Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), a clinical score for Pso severity, was higher (11±6 vs. 7±3, p =0.006) compared to pts with CFR>2.5. At multivariable analysis PASI remained the only determinant of CFR≤2.5 (p =0.02). Conclusion: CFR in young pts with severe Pso without coronary disease is reduced suggesting a coronary microvascular dysfunction, independently related to the severity and extension of Pso. This early microvascular impairment might be hypothesized as the consequence of prolonged and sustained systemic inflammation and might explain the increased cardiovascular risk conferred by Pso. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]