HIGH PREVALENCE OF CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASES AND ENHANCED ACTIVITY OF THE RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM IN PSORIATIC PATIENTS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (2) , 199-205
Abstract
We have observed a significant higher prevalence of essential hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in a group of 100 psoriatic patients compared with sex and age matched hospitalized controls. Thirty-five psoriatic patients exhibited and enhanced plasma renin activity (PRA), while urinary aldosterone excretion was raised in 27% of the group. The autonomic responsiveness of psoriatic patients, studied by cold pressure test and tilting was normal; this finding supports the hypothesis that the enhanced activity of renin-angiotensin system is not due to an increased sympathetic function in these psoriatic patients. High values of cholesterol, triglycerides and depressed HDL-cholesterol concentrations were also observed. A complete clinical and laboratory examination is very useful in psoriasis in order to initiate an appropriate treatment of the risk factors whenever present.

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