Lipid Profile In Psoriatic Arthritis. Frequency And Association With Disease Activity

Abstract

Abstract: 

Introduction: Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is associated with increased risk of Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), Arterial Hypertension (AHT), Dyslipidemia, and Cardiovascular Disease compared to the general population.  The lipid profile in these patients has been studied for a long time, however, the results on this association remain controversial. 

Objectives: To study the frequency of altered lipid profiles in patients with Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and its association with disease activity.  

Methods: We studied all the patients diagnosed with PsA who consecutively attended to Rheumatology Unit at Cordoba Hospital from July 2018 to December 2019. Psa was diagnosed according to CASPAR criteria.  Clinical, and laboratory data were collected. The activity of the disease was evaluated by PASI, MDA and DAPSA. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. 

Results: 42 PsA patients were included. Mean age was 56 years old (47,25-62,75) and 54.76% were female (n=23). 92.86% (n =39) of the patients had plaque Psoriasis. The predominant joint involvement was peripheral and polyarticular (87.8%), the median time since diagnosis was 17 months (12-89). Seventy-six percent were receiving methotrexate and 40% biologics. Disease activity measured by DAPSA was predominantly moderate in 17 patients. The median laboratory values found: total cholesterol 194.5 mg/dl (164.8-218.2), triglycerides 139.50 mg/dl (89.25-191.20) and ApoB/ApoA ratio 0.63 (0.42-0.81). Fifty-seven percent of the patients had an altered lipid profile, with hypertriglyceridemia being the most frequent (48%). There was no correlation between Apo B/Apo A Ratio with DAPSA (rho=0.013; p=0.9396) nor with MDA (rho=-0.029; p=0.8671).

Conclusion: In spite of the presence of cardiovascular factors in the majority of PsA patients, lipid profile is not associated with disease activity in this population. However, the presence of hypertriglyceridemia was a characteristic finding in these patients.