Psoriasis, hypertension can be linked

people with psoriasis and high blood pressure are more likely to have a more severe hypertension, requiring more medication to control, a new study suggests.

Approximately 4% of the U.S. population has psoriasis, which causes red, dry itching, thickened, patches on the skin.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis health system examined 835 patients who had psoriasis and hypertension. Their cases were compared with more than 2,400 people who had high blood pressure, but not of psoriasis.

Psoriasis patients were more likely to need the highest level of the treatment of blood pressure, which relies on a central action Officer (also known under the name of the adrenergic) which is used in people with high blood pressure can be controlled with conventional medications.

Hypertensive patients with psoriasis were also about 20 times more likely to be on four drugs or an agent of central action and hypertensive patients without psoriasis.

The study is published online in PLoS One.

The study noted the conclusions have been significant even after other risk factors associated with hypertension, diabetes, including the smoking and high cholesterol, have been taken into account. Researchers have also been pointed out it is unlikely that the drugs used to treat psoriasis are responsible for the severity of hypertension.

"Our study provides strong arguments that psoriasis is not only a superficial disease," said the lead author of the study Dr. April w. Armstrong, UC Davis assistant professor of Dermatology clinic in a University Press release. "We are beginning to find that psoriasis may represent a window in the detection of cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension."

Armstrong added that the findings can alert physicians dealing with hypertension, heart disease and stroke risk factor. "Hypertensive patients who also have psoriasis are probable need for closer supervision and a pattern of drugs more aggressive to get adequate blood pressure control", she said.

Over the past four decades, researchers have developed several theories to explain the link between psoriasis and hypertension, including:

People with psoriasis may be more likely to develop the constriction of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure. Psoriasis patients have high levels of a protein produced by cells of the skin (endothelin I), which tightens blood vessels and increases blood pressure. As an inflammatory disease, psoriasis can cause damage to blood vessels and heart.

"Our understanding of psoriasis as a systemic disease is changing rapidly," concluded Armstrong. "A better appreciation of the other conditions which tend to accompany psoriasis could potentially lead our treatment of the disease in the future.".

Although the new study found an association between psoriasis and high blood pressure, it has not demonstrated a cause and effect.