Lowering Interleukin-12 Activity Improves Myocardial and Vascular Function Compared With Tumor Necrosis Factor-a Antagonism or Cyclosporine in Psoriasis.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-12 activity is involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and acute coronary syndromes. We investigated the effects of IL-12 inhibition on vascular and left ventricular (LV) function in psoriasis.

Methods And Results: One hundred fifty psoriasis patients were randomized to receive an anti-IL-12/23 (ustekinumab, n=50), anti-tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α; etanercept, n=50), or cyclosporine treatment (n=50).

Increased levels of circulating platelet-derived microparticles in psoriasis: Possible implications for the associated cardiovascular risk.

Aim: To evaluate platelet activation markers in psoriasis patients, compared to controls, and investigate their association with the inflammatory burden of psoriasis.

Methods: Forty psoriatic patients without cardiovascular disease, and 12 healthy controls were subjected to measurement of baseline platelet CD62P, CD63 and CD42b expression, platelet-leukocyte complexes, ., platelet-monocyte complexes (PMC), platelet-neutrophil complexes (PNC) and platelet-lymphocyte complexes, and concentrations of platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) using flow cytometry.

Similarities in coronary function and myocardial deformation between psoriasis and coronary artery disease: the role of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Background: Psoriasis has been associated with increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the presence of vascular and subclinical left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with psoriasis compared with patients with CAD.

Methods: We compared 59 patients with psoriasis without evidence of CAD (psoriasis area and severity index [PASI], 11.