New Frontiers in Psoriatic Disease Research, Part II: Comorbidities and Targeted Therapies

Abstract

Although psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have been classically considered to be diseases of the skin and joints, respectively, emerging evidence suggests that a combination of innate and environmental factors creates widespread immune dysfunction, affecting multiple organ systems. A greater understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriasis and the systemic effects of psoriatic inflammation has allowed for the development of new, more effective treatments. The second portion of this two-part review series examines the comorbidities associated with psoriasis and PsA as well as the most recent advances in targeted systemic therapies for these conditions.

Figure 1.. Proximal Left anterior descending artery, with plaque identified at baseline.

(a) Coronary artery visualized from coronary CT angiography (CCTA) scan with overlying segmentation of artery and derivation of plaque characteristics (transparent). (b) Three-Dimensional segmentation of artery in gold with derived plaque characteristics displayed; lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) in yellow and calcified (CALC) plaque in green. (c) Longitudinal planar view through midline of coronary artery with color overlap displaying plaque characteristics. *Image courtesy of NHLBI (Mehta Lab, under submission in Journal of CIRC CV Imaging).