Arterial hypertension in patients with psoriasis

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory-proliferative disease,
belonging to the group of autoimmune disorders. Although
the disease process affects mainly the skin, inflammation is
a systemic process. Chronic inflammation in psoriasis increases
the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Many studies
have shown that patients with psoriasis are characterized
by increased cardiovascular mortality and increased incidence
of both myocardial infarction and stroke. Additional
and frequently occurred cardiovascular risk factors in patients
with psoriasis are: obesity, lipid disorders, diabetes
and cigarettes smoking. Prevention of cardiovascular diseases
in patients with psoriasis consist of among others
blood pressure control, weight reduction, smoking cessation
and increased physical activity. Hypertension occurs
in patients with psoriasis more often than in the general
population. Moreover cyclosporin A, frequently used in
the psoriasis therapy, has the hypertensinogenic properties.
On the other hand some antihypertensive drugs
(mainly beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists) should be
used with caution, as they may exacerbate existing psoriasis
or induce psoriasis de novo.