Cardiovascular effects of Etanercept in patients with psoriatic arthritis: evidence from the cardiovascular risk in rheumatic diseases database.

Introduction: Many literature data support the possibility of an increased cardiovascular (CV) risk in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients compared with the general population. This cannot be entirely explained by the presence of traditional vascular risk factors. It has been suggested that inflammation may act synergistically with traditional vascular risk factors, thus contributing to the atherosclerotic process and to the increased CV risk.

Areas Covered: In order to evaluate the CV effects of the control of systemic inflammation by Etanercept, in the present study we analyze data recorded in the Cardiovascular Risk in Rheumatic Diseases study group database to perform a further analysis on the effects of Etanercept on primary hemostasis, secondary hemostasis and carotid subclinical atherosclerosis. Platelet reactivity is increased in patients with poorly controlled PsA. Among patients receiving Etanercept, those achieving minimal disease activity show a platelet reactivity comparable to healthy controls. Similarly, the anti-inflammatory effect of Etanercept is associated with a significant improvement of hemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters in PsA subjects, maximal changes being documented in patients achieving minimal disease activity. In addition, the treatment with Etanercept seems to be associated with a carotid intima-media thickness significantly lower as compared with matched patients receiving traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

Expert Opinion: Our data can be suggestive of the reduction of the CV risk in patients with PsA treated with Etanercept.