Cardiometabolic biomarkers in chronic plaque psoriasis before and after etanercept treatment

Objective: To assess cardiometabolic biomarkers in patients with psoriasis before and after etanercept treatment. Methods: Patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis were randomized to etanercept 50 mg once or twice weekly, double-blinded. Cardiometabolic biomarkers were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment (n = 273). Results: At baseline, 42% of patients had metabolic syndrome. Etanercept was not associated with any clinically relevant adverse effects on cardiometabolic biomarkers. In the once-weekly subgroup, significant mean percentage changes from baseline (p < 0.05) were observed for the quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI; -2.2%), apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 (3.2%), Apo B: Apo A1 ratio (-3.5%), leptin (8.6%) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (-65.5%); and in the twice-weekly subgroup for plasma insulin (15.9%), QUICKI (-2.7%), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; 2.9%), apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 (2.8%), Apo B: Apo A1 (-4.6%) and hsCRP (-74.4%). Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was common in these patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Etanercept treatment may provide some potentially favorable modulation of insulin sensitivity, HDL-C, Apo A1 and Apo B: Apo A1 ratio.