New psoriasis treatment can cut risk of heart attack and stroke

Washington, March 17 (ANI): A new treatment for psoriasis could be associated with a significant decrease in vascular inflammation, a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease, a new study has revealed.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and joints that affects up to 3 percent of the population.

This disease is associated with a greater risk of heart attack (infarction) and stroke.

The study co-led by the Montreal Heart Institute and Innovaderm Research Inc., wanted to show that a treatment to reduce skin inflammation in psoriasis patients could be associated with a decrease in vascular inflammation.

The study had positive results, as vascular inflammation decreased significantly in patients suffering from psoriasis who were treated with adalimumab, a biological anti-inflammatory compound.

The study also showed a 51percent decrease in C-reactive protein among patients treated with adalimumab compared to a 2 percent decrease among patients in the control group.

These results are significant, as a high level of C-reactive protein is known to be associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

In relation to the treatment of psoriasis, 70 percent of patients who received the compound presented with a major decrease in skin lesion severity, compared to 20 percent of patients in the control group.

"This study is a great example of the high-level research being conducted in Montreal," said Dr. Robert Bissonnette, President and Founder of Innovaderm Research Inc. and co-principal author of the study.

He added that this clinical research study suggests that it is possible to assess the impact of psoriasis treatments on the heart without having to resort to long-term studies that require thousands of patients and have higher costs.

"These findings are extremely encouraging for people suffering from psoriasis, as they face a greater risk of cardiovascular disease," explained Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif, Director of the Research Centre of the Montreal Heart Institute and co-principal author of the study.

He also emphasized the importance of regular medical follow-up for people with psoriasis to prevent cardiovascular events and establish an optimum therapeutic approach.

The finding was presented today at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. (ANI)