The objective of this study is to assess whether there is an increased risk of the metabolic syndrome in children with psoriasis compared to children without psoriasis.
Adult patients with psoriasis, especially those who are young and with severe disease, have an increased prevalence of myocardial infarction and metabolic syndrome, and increased mortality. Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) and other inflammatory cytokines are felt to play an important role not only in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, but in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome and increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. However, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and surrogate markers of increased cardiovascular risk, such as lower flow-mediated dilation (FMD) during reactive hyperemia, measured by high-resolution brachial artery ultrasound, lower hyperemia-induced, pulse wave amplitudes as measured by finger plethysmograph peripheral artery tonometry, and elevated blood CRP levels, in children with psoriasis, are unknown. We will use the definition of metabolic syndrome described by de Ferranti: Participants are defined as having metabolic syndrome if they meet or exceed the criteria for 3 or more of the following 5 variables: 1) triglycerides ≥1.1 mmol/L; 2) HDL cholesterol \<1.3 mmol/L; 3) fasting blood glucose ≥6.1 mmol/L; 4) waist circumference (cm) \>75th percentile for age and sex; and 5) systolic or diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) \>90th percentile for age, sex, and height. The following two noninvasive procedures will be used to assess additional cardiovascular risk: flow mediated dilation (FMD) and finger plethysmography peripheral artery tonometry (PAT). These procedures have been used extensively to measure adults for clinical study purposes for many years. As a control group, we will compare children with psoriasis to age-, race-,and gender-matched children with warts.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
42
Tufts Medical Center, Department of Dermatology
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
The primary objective of this study is to determine if children with psoriasis will have an increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome.
Time frame: one assessment
Metabolic syndrome in children with psoriasis will be determined using body weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and blood lipid profile.
Time frame: one assessment
Surrogate endpoints indicating potential increased cardiovascular risks, including high sensitivity CRP, flow-mediated dilation (FMD) during reactive hyperemia, and hyperemia-induced, pulse wave amplitudes.
Time frame: one assessment
For psoriasis patients only: PASI, BSA, and PGA will be measured to establish extent of disease.
Time frame: one assessment
Safety Outcome Measures: All adverse events (AEs) will be recorded and monitored.
Time frame: each occurance
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.