Biomarkers of inflammation and left ventricular remodelling in psoriasis patients treated with infliximab.

Objective

Psoriasis is an immune mediated disorder associated with T cell activation and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We explored the association of inflammation with left ventricular (LV) remodelling in psoriasis patients receiving treatment with the tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) blocker infliximab.

Methods

Psoriasis patients (n = 47, age 47 ± 14 years, 66% men) and 99 control subjects without psoriasis (age 47 ± 11 years, 72% men) were examined by echocardiography in a cross-sectional study. LV remodelling was assessed by LV mass index for height in the allometric power of 2.7. Serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), neopterin, kynurenine:tryptophan ratio (KTR) and the pyridoxic acid ratio (PAr) index were measured.

Results

Serum concentration of neopterin (p = .007) was higher in psoriasis patients, while the other inflammatory biomarkers had similar levels. LV mass index was lower in patients than controls (35.6 ± 9.6 g/m2.7 vs. 40.3 ± 9.8 g/m2.7, p = .008). In the total study population, serum SAA (β = 0.18, p = .02), KTR (β = 0.20, p = .02) and the PAr index (β = 0.26, p = .002) were all associated with higher LV mass index independent of age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, smoking, renal function and psoriasis. Also in psoriasis patients, higher SAA level (β = 0.34, p = .02), KTR (β = 0.32, p = .02) and the PAr index (β = 0.29, p = .05) were associated with higher LV mass index independent of body mass index, hypertension and diabetes.

Conclusion

Higher levels of the inflammatory biomarkers SAA, KTR and the PAr index were associated with greater LV mass index in psoriasis patients, indicating a role of chronic inflammation in LV remodelling evident even during treatment with TNF-α blockers.