Benefits of using thoracic echocardiography in the evaluation of patients with psoriasis

Cardiovascular involvement (arterial hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction) is common in patients with psoriasis. Echocardiography is a frequently used test that allows identifying heart abnormalities. The aim of the study was to evaluate echocardiographic changes in patients with psoriasis vulgaris compared to a control group of sex- and age-matched patients without psoriasis. Our study was carried out on 31 psoriatic patients with cardiovascular comorbidities admitted to the hospital dermatology department and referred to the echocardiography laboratory. Echocardiography study was done in all patients, by using the standard methods. All patients were found to have left ventricular systolic function preserved but in the psoriatic patients, diastolic dysfunction was characterized by impaired relaxation. Wall motion abnormalities and valvular disorders were correlated with the severity and duration of the disease and provide important information in order to guide the therapy and to improve outpatients prognosis.