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Updated: May 1, 2026

Studying Chronic Exposure of Mice to Ultraviolet B Radiation
Published on: August 19, 2025
Systemic treatment and narrowband ultraviolet B differentially affect cardiovascular risk markers in psoriasis
Gunnthorunn Sigurdardottir1, Anna-Karin Ekman1, Mona Ståhle2
1Ingrid Asp Psoriasis Research Center, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Background:
Psoriasis is associated with a systemic inflammation and an increased frequency of the metabolic syndrome, both of which are believed to link psoriasis to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Objective:
The study aimed to investigate the systemic expression of markers of cardiovascular risk and determine their response to ultraviolet B therapy and treatment with the tumor necrosis factor-alfa inhibitor, etanercept.
Methods:
Six markers of cardiovascular risk were measured in 28 patients with psoriasis and 28 control subjects.
Results:
Five of the 6 investigated markers were elevated in patients with psoriasis. Four of these correlated to the body mass index and waist-hip ratio, suggesting a link to the metabolic syndrome. Total plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 remained elevated independently of these factors. The levels of the investigated risk markers decreased considerably after tumor necrosis factor-alfa inhibitor treatment but remained unaffected by ultraviolet therapy.
Limitations:
A relatively limited study population and nonrandomization are limitations.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that the choice of treatment in psoriasis may influence the cardiovascular risk in patients with psoriasis and the metabolic syndrome.
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