Israeli researchers examine link between psoriasis, two serious diseases

Tel Aviv, Israel - New research suggests a link between psoriasis and two diseases that are potentially serious: diabetes and atherosclerosis.

News source Newswise reports that according to a study conducted at Rabin Medical Center’s department of dermatology, diabetes and atherosclerosis occur more frequently in psoriasis patients compared with patients without psoriasis.

The study, published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, looked at data on 46,095 patients with psoriasis and 1,579,037 patients without psoriasis from a patient database recorded in Israel between 1997 and 2004. The study was designed to determine what subset of the psoriasis patient population was most affected.

Specifically, the researchers noted that the psoriasis/diabetes link was more prominent in women than in men, and in patients between the ages of 35 and 55. Similarly, the association between atherosclerosis and psoriasis was higher among women, compared with men, and in patients between the ages of 35 and 55, and 65 and 75.

In addition, the data analysis showed an association between diabetes and the overuse of extremely potent topical steroids or certain systemic medications for psoriasis. Researchers suggest this could indicate that the prevalence of diabetes among psoriasis patients increases with the severity of the psoriasis.

Researchers also noted a link between the prevalence of atherosclerosis and the use of phototherapy.