Does Psoriasis Increase Risk of Abdominal Aneurysm? Save

Danish researchers studied a cohort of 59,423 mild psoriasis and 11,566 severe psoriasis patients over a 14 year period, and found 240 and 50 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), repectively. (Citation source http://buff.ly/1YxGpDA)

When compared to the general population, the adjusted incidence rate ratios for AAA were increased in mild psoriasis (incidence rate ratios 1.20; 95% CI 1.03–1.39) and in severe psoriasis (IRR 1.67; CI 1.21–2.32) .

Psoriasis patients are at risk for several severe comorbididities, but this association with AAA has not been observed heretofore.  It is unclear if this link is bonafide or spurious, but it is curious that, much like psoriasis, inflammation and Th17 cell–mediated activity may be implicated in AAA pathogenesis.

AAA may be associated with grave outcomes. The prevalence increases with age and affects about 2 percent of people 65 and older, typically men, according to the study.

The authors conclude this observation merits further study.