Coronary Inflammation Assessed by Perivascular Fat Attenuation Index in Patients with Psoriasis: A Propensity Score-Matched Study

Dermatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Wenrui Bao ◽  
Min Yang ◽  
Zhihan Xu ◽  
Fuhua Yan ◽  
Qi Yang ◽  
...  

<b><i>Objectives:</i></b> This study aimed to evaluate coronary inflammation by measuring the perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) and quantify the atherosclerosis burden in patients with psoriasis and control individuals without psoriasis based on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) images. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 98 consecutive patients with psoriasis (76 male [77.6%], aged 56.5 years, range 45.5–65.0) were recruited, and 196 patients (157 male [80.1%]; aged 54.6 ± 14.1 years) without established cardiovascular disease (CVD) who underwent CCTA within the same period were enrolled in the control group. Coronary plaque burden was quantified using the computed tomography-adapted Leaman score (CT-LeSc), and the FAI surrounding the proximal of three main epicardial vessels was measured to represent coronary inflammation. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Patients with psoriasis and the control subjects were well matched in CVD risk factors (all <i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). Psoriasis patients had a greater overall CT-LeSc (5.86 vs. 4.69, <i>p</i> = 0.030) and lower perivascular FAI (−80.19 ± 7.48 vs. −78.14 ± 7.81 HU, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). A similar result was found upon comparing psoriasis patients without biological or statin therapy with non-psoriasis individuals without statin treatments. Furthermore, the psoriasis group had a higher prevalence of non-calcified plaques (30.3% in the psoriasis group vs. 20.1% in the control subjects, <i>p</i> = 0.001). No difference in perivascular FAI on either calcified and mixed plaques or non-calcified plaques between the two groups was found. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Patients with psoriasis have a higher atherosclerotic burden as quantified by CT-LeSc and less coronary inflammation as detected by perivascular FAI around the most proximal of the three major epicardial vessels. The usefulness of perivascular FAI for evaluating coronary inflammation in patients with chronic low-grade inflammatory disease such as psoriasis should be verified.

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leangelo N. Hall ◽  
Laura R. Sanchez ◽  
Jane Hubbard ◽  
Hang Lee ◽  
Sara E. Looby ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Dietary sweeteners may contribute to metabolic dysregulation and cardiovascular disease (CVD), but this has not been assessed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods One hundred twenty-four HIV-infected and 56 non-HIV-infected participants, without history of known coronary artery disease were included. Dietary intake was assessed using a 4-day food record. Coronary plaque was determined using cardiac computed tomography angiography. Results Human immunodeficiency virus-infected participants had significantly greater intake of dietary sweeteners, including total sugar (P = .03) and added sugar (P = .009); intake of aspartame (artificial sweetener) was greater among aspartame consumers with HIV versus non-HIV consumers (P = .03). Among HIV-infected participants, aspartame intake was significantly associated with coronary plaque (P = .002) and noncalcified plaque (P = .007) segments, as well as markers of inflammation/immune activation (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2), which may contribute to increased atherogenesis. In multivariable regression modeling, aspartame remained an independent predictor of plaque in HIV. In contrast, among non-HIV-infected participants, no sweetener type was shown to relate to plaque characteristics. Conclusions We demonstrate increased intake of dietary sweeteners and a potential novel association between aspartame intake, plaque burden, and inflammation in HIV. Our data suggest that aspartame may contribute to CVD risk in HIV. Further studies should address potential mechanisms by which aspartame may contribute to increased plaque burden and cardiovascular benefits of dietary strategies targeting aspartame intake in HIV.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-23
Author(s):  
Kristian L. Funck ◽  
Ricardo P. J. Budde ◽  
Mette H. Viuff ◽  
Jan Wen ◽  
Jesper M. Jensen ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M K Christiansen ◽  
L Nissen ◽  
S Winther ◽  
L Frost ◽  
J K Johansen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Genetic risk scores (GRSs) based on risk variants identified from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) predict coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. However, it is unknown whether the GRS is associated with coronary plaque burden or specific high-risk plaque features responsible for the clinical disease onset. Purpose To investigate if a GRS is associated with coronary plaque burden and specific plaque characteristics, in patients with suspected stable CAD referred for coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). Methods We consecutively included and genotyped 1645 patients undergoing coronary CTA. Using LDPred, a previously validated GRS was calculated as the weighted sum of the number of CAD risk variants identified from the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D GWAS meta-analysis. Plaques were evaluated using an 18-segment model and characterized by stenosis severity (0%, 1–49%, 50–69%, 70–100%) and composition (calcified (>80% calcified), mixed-calcified (50–80% calcified), mixed-soft (20–50% calcified), or soft (<20% calcified)). The segment stenosis score and the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) were used as measures of plaque burden. Multivariate regression models were used to assess the effect per standard deviation (SD) of the GRS with adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, BMI, chest pain symptoms, and active smoking. Results For each SD increase in the GRS, the segment stenosis score increased with 49% (p=8.6e-27) and CACS increased with 110% (p=2.3e-24). The GRS was associated with a higher risk of plaque stenosis >50% (OR: 1.74, p=3.2e-15), calcified (OR: 1.65, p=3.0e-16), mixed-calcified (OR: 1.64, p=1.5e-8), mixed-soft (OR: 1.44, p=1.6e-6), and soft plaques (OR: 1.40, p=3.0e-6), and all coronary vessels were more often affected with plaques (all p-values <1.0e-4). When analyzing the plaque characteristics (3007 plaques in 849 patients), the GRS was associated with stenosis severity (OR per severity category: 1.15 (p=0.005), but not with extent of calcification, proximal location, or presence in any of the major coronary vessels (all p-values >0.05). GRS and Plaque burden Conclusion The GRS was strongly associated with the extent and severity of CAD at coronary CTA, but not any specific plaque characteristics per se. The results may suggest that polygenic risk based on large CAD-GWAS increases CAD risk through increased coronary plaque burden rather than specific plaque features.


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