18%. Wu et al4 found that psoriasis patients using TNF-inhibitor therapy had a significantly decreased risk (55.0%) of myocardial infarction in comparison to patients using topical therapy, and a non-significant yet associated decreased risk (21%) compared to patients using other oral agents or phototherapy (Table 1). Additionally, when age-stratified, TNF inhibitors, oral agents, and phototherapy may have greater protective effects in those greater than 60 years as compared to those less than 60 years.
Extended reviews are needed to further highlight additional studies supporting the role of TNF inhibitor therapy in reducing CV comorbidity in psoriasis patients, and the investigations discussed in this letter are essential to guiding future studies on the added benefits of these innovative therapies and their anti-inflammatory nature.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Dr. Jashin J Wu MD FAAD had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
Dr. Wu was responsible for the study concept and design, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, and study supervision. Shivani Reddy was responsible for the drafting of the manuscript.
DISCLOSURES
Dr. Wu received research funding from AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Coherus Biosciences, Dermira, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sandoz, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries; he is a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Dermira, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries. Shivani Reddy does not have any potential conflicts of interest.
REFERENCES
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- Bacchetti T, Campanati A, Ferretti G, et al. Oxidative stress and psoriasis: the effect of antitumour necrosis factor-α inhibitor treatment. Br J Dermatol. 2013;168:984–9.
- Di Minno MND, Iervolino S, Peluso R, Scarpa R, Di Minno G, CaRRDs study group. Carotid intima-media thickness in psoriatic arthritis: differences between tumor necrosis factor-α blockers and traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011;31:705–12.
- Wu JJ, Poon K-YT, Channual JC, Shen AY-J. Association between tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy and myocardial infarction risk in patients with psoriasis. Arch Dermatol. 2012;148:1244–50.
