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Children with psoriasis had higher rate of metabolic syndrome
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MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Children with psoriasis are more likely to have a higher rate of metabolic syndrome compared with those without psoriasis, according to study results presented at the 2013 American Academy of Dermatology meeting.
Researchers for the assessor-blinded study examined 20 children aged 9 to 17 years with moderate to severe psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis and compared them with a control group of age- and sex-matched children with benign nevi, warts or acne who were not treated with oral medications.
Metabolic syndrome occurred in 30% of participants with psoriasis and 5% of those in the control group, according to the study findings.
Researchers said they also found that participants with psoriasis had higher mean fasting blood glucose levels (91.1 mg/dL; 95% CI, 87.8-94.3) compared with the control group (82.9 mg/dL; 95% CI, 77.4-87.4).
There were no statistical significances in the other individual components of metabolic syndrome: BMI and BMI percentile for age and sex; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; and markers of endothelial dysfunction.
Researchers said it is “important to evaluate pediatric psoriasis patients for components of metabolic syndrome to prevent future cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality.”
For more information:
Goldminz A. #P6765. Presented at: AAD 2013; March 1-5, 2013; Miami Beach, Fla.
Disclosure: This study was supported by Amgen.
Perspective
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Marissa J. Perman, MD
While the metabolic syndrome has shown to be increased in adult patients with psoriasis, there is currently a paucity of literature to support similar findings in children. This study aimed to evaluate certain criteria of the metabolic syndrome in a small number of children with pediatric psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis at one institution compared to age- and sex-matched controls with other skin conditions. This study showed a statistically significant increase in the risk of the metabolic syndrome in six of 20 children with psoriasis compared with one of 20 children in the age- and sex matched controls.
This study is limited by the small sample size and failed to show a difference between the two groups in several other secondary endpoints, including BMI. Further studies will be needed to assess a true correlation between the metabolic syndrome and pediatric patients with psoriasis.
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