More than skin deep: atherosclerosis as a systemic manifestation of psoriasis.

There is now growing evidence that psoriasis, like other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, is a systemic disorder that is associated with enhanced atherosclerosis and risk of coronary artery disease. Here we summarize the available epidemiological evidence for this association and analyse pathogenic features that are common to psoriasis and atherosclerosis. Further prospective studies are urgently needed to extend knowledge of the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with psoriasis and to confirm the degree to which treatment of psoriasis reduces this risk. Nevertheless, existing data are sufficient to indicate that severe psoriasis should be more widely recognized as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease and should be considered with the established factors when formulating strategies for the management of cardiovascular risk.

Updates from the Fourth International Congress 'psoriasis: from gene to clinic', the Royal College of Physicians, London, UK, 1-3 December 2005.

The fourth 'Psoriasis: From Gene to Clinic' meeting was held in December 2005, its international status confirmed by the presence of almost 300 delegates from Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia. The meeting was co-organized by Jonathan Barker (St John's Institute of Dermatology, London) and Chris Griffiths (University of Manchester), who once again deserve congratulations for the success of their initiative. As its title suggests, the meeting was targeted at both clinical and basic scientists with a special interest in psoriasis, but in preparing this report the writer has selected presentations that caught his attention and that he felt able to review in a manner that might be of interest to the general readership of this Journal.