Psoriasis and the Metabolic Syndrome

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-inflammatory–mediated disease that can predispose patients to other inflammatory conditions. For example, individuals with psoriasis are at increased risk for insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension— components that characterize the metabolic syndrome. The metabolic syndrome is an important driver of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and other factors that are overproduced in patients with psoriasis likely contribute to the increased risk for development of metabolic syndrome. This article reviews the association of psoriasis with metabolic syndrome, as well as the impact of biologic agents that are currently used to treat psoriasis (ie, TNF antagonists) on risk factors for metabolic syndrome.