RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Subclinical atherosclerosis in psoriatic arthritis: a case-control study. JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 877 OP 882 VO 35 IS 5 A1 Lihi Eder A1 Devy Zisman A1 Menashe Barzilai A1 Arie Laor A1 Michal Rahat A1 Michael Rozenbaum A1 Haim Bitterman A1 Joy Feld A1 Doron Rimar A1 Itzhak Rosner YR 2008 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/35/5/877.abstract AB OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: Forty patients with PsA were enrolled. Controls were matched by age, sex, and atherosclerotic risk factors. All patients and controls underwent duplex scan of the carotid arteries. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was evaluated and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques was recorded. The plaques were graded and carotid plaque index was calculated. RESULTS: Patients with PsA had a higher IMT (mean +/- standard deviation, 1.04 +/- 0.35 mm vs 0.88 +/- 0.29 mm in controls; p = 0.03), and had a higher carotid plaque index than did matched controls (2.3 +/- 2.6, compared to 1.12 +/- 2.09; p = 0.03). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PsA status as well as age and triglyceride levels were associated with the presence of carotid plaque. Other traditional risk factors were more prevalent among patients with PsA; however, they were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that patients with PsA may have an increased prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis. These findings may not be solely attributable to traditional risk factors alone. Special attention and strict control of atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with PsA is warranted.