PSORIASIS & HYPERURICAEMIA; A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic dermatologic inflammatory disorder with genetic predisposition playing a strong
role. Plaque psoriasis which is the commonest form, affects up to 2% of population and is increasingly associated with
high uric acid level.
Objective: We aimed to determine the association of psoriasis and hyperuricaemia, with reference to concomitant
occurrence of risk factors that may confound serum uric acid levels in addition to the primary diagnosis.
Methods: This is a cohort study with historical control subjects, who were matched with the study population in terms
of age and gender. All patients were investigated about uric acid levels, renal function, and metabolic profile including
serum cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood sugar and risk factors for metabolic syndromes such as body mass
index (BMI).
Results: Overall mean age was 43.7 ± 8.94 years with 94 (72.3%) males and 36 (27.7%) females. Mean symptoms duration
since diagnosis was 11.6 ± 4.5 years and mean psoriatic body surface area was 19.8 ± 6.6%. In this cohort study,
we observed a significantly higher prevalence of asymptomatic hyperuricemia (63% vs 20%) in the psoriatic population
as compared to controls. Obesity was more prevalent (24.6% vs 6.2%, p = 0.004, OR: 4.0, 95% CI: 1.4 – 11.3) in the
psoriasis group as was the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (55.4% vs 13.8%, p < 0.001, OR: 4.0 95% CI: 2.1-7.6).
Conclusions: Psoriasis is a commonly associated with hyperuricaemia. The high prevalence of metabolic syndrome
and the association of hyperuricaemia with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases warrants special attention in
these patients.