Influence of interleukin-6 gene polymorphisms in epicardial adipose tissue and coronary artery calcification in patients with psoriasis

Psoriasis is currently considered a systemic inflammatory disorder associated with several comorbidities and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)1 cytokines are overexpressed cutaneous and systemically and may be responsible for skin lesions but also for psoriasis-associated conditions surrounding the heart, is now regarded as an important factor in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis and CVD, through inflammatory burden proximal to the coronary arteries, and has been shown to be increased in psoriasis patients independently of abdominal visceral fat (AVF) and to be associated with sub-clinical atherosclerosis IL-6 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis1 but also of abdominal obesity atherosclerosis and CVD4 30% of total circulating concentrations in healthy subjects thought to be influenced by polymorphisms in their gene loci, and this may contribute to the development of psoriasis, but also excess adiposity and psoriasis has been investigated that could predict which patients are at risk of developing psoriasis-linked cardiovascular comorbidities may permit an earlier management, with important clinical implications. This study aimed to evaluate the potential contribution of four IL-6 genetic variants (rs1800795[-174G>C], rs1800796[-572G>C], rs2069827[-1426G>T], rs2069840[-1753C>G]) in psoriasis susceptibility and its influence in EAT and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in severe psoriasis patients.