Cardiometabolic Risk in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Hidden Burden of Inflammation and Metabolic Dysregulation

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Cardiology
• Metabolic Medicine

Background:

• Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with significant cardiometabolic implications beyond skin and joint symptoms.
• Systemic inflammation in PsA is increasingly linked to metabolic dysregulation, including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress, elevating cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the complex relationship between inflammatory mediators, adipokine imbalances, and lipid metabolism abnormalities in PsA.
• To explore how these factors contribute to endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and overall cardiovascular risk in PsA patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on the interplay of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17), adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin), and metabolic alterations in PsA.
• Analysis of mechanisms linking inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and cardiovascular complications.

Main Results:

• Inflammatory mediators and adipokine dysregulation in PsA exacerbate inflammatory cascades and promote endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.
• Metabolic alterations, particularly insulin resistance and lipid dysfunction, are associated with increased CVD comorbidities and influence PsA disease severity and treatment response.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the mechanistic links between inflammation and metabolic dysfunction is crucial for refining risk stratification and treatment strategies in PsA.
• An integrated approach combining immunomodulatory therapies with metabolic and cardiovascular risk management is essential for comprehensive PsA care.
• Future research should focus on shared inflammatory and metabolic pathways to develop novel therapies mitigating cardiometabolic complications in PsA.