High prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and enhanced activity of the renin-angiotensin system in psoriatic patients.

We have observed a significant higher prevalence of essential hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in a group of 100 psoriatic patients compared with sex and age matched hospitalized controls. Thirty-five psoriatic patients exhibited and enhanced plasma renin activity (PRA), while urinary aldosterone excretion was raised in 27% of the group. The autonomic responsiveness of psoriatic patients, studied by cold pressure test and tilting was normal; this finding supports the hypothesis that the enhanced activity of renin-angiotensin system is not due to an increased sympathetic function in these psoriatic patients. High values of cholesterol, triglycerides and depressed HDL-cholesterol concentrations were also observed. A complete clinical and laboratory examination is very useful in psoriasis in order to initiate an appropriate treatment of the risk factors whenever present.