Can serum level of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide be used in patients with psoriasis as a predictor of cardiovascular disease?

Past studies have reported associations between psoriasis, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. According to studies, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a useful screening test for cardiac disease. We examined the serum NT-proBNP level in patients with psoriasis and compared them with nonpsoriatic healthy control subjects. Sixty-one patients with psoriasis were enrolled, along with 61 age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) matched control subjects. In both groups, NT-proBNP serum levels and lipid profile parameters were investigated. Means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. The median serum concentration of NT-proBNP was higher in psoriatic patients than the control group (26.67 [interquartile range (IQR): 15.15-43.03 and range: 5-250] vs. 17.45 [IQR: 12.35-20.80 and range: 5-45.09, p < 0.0001). NT-proBNP serum level in psoriatic arthritis patients (11%; 55.6 +/- 25.7 pg/mL, 95% CI: 31.9-79.4 pg/mL) was higher than psoriasis patients without arthritis (35.8 +/- 40.6 pg/mL, CI: 24.7-46.9, p < 0.001). NT-proBNP levels were also positively correlated with BMI, lipid profile, and disease duration. NT-proBNP is elevated in patients with psoriasis, consistent with the high risk of cardiovascular disease associated with psoriasis.