Am J Cardiovasc Dis 2013;3(4):273-278 www.AJCD.us /ISSN:2160-200X/AJCD1308005
Original Article A comparison of vascular inflammation in psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and healthy subjects by FDG-PET/CT: a pilot study Shawn Rose1,2, Nikhil H Sheth3, Joshua F Baker4, Alexis Ogdie4, Anna Raper3, Babak Saboury5, Thomas J Werner5, Preethi Thomas4, Abby Vanvoorhees6, Abass Alavi5, Drew A Torigian5, Joel M Gelfand6,7,8, Nehal N Mehta1,3,8 Section of Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Diseases, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; 2National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; 3Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; 4Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; 5Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; 6Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; 7Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; 8Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 1
Received August 20, 2013; Accepted August 30, 2013; Epub November 1, 2013; Published November 15, 2013 Abstract: Objective: Psoriasis (PSO) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increase cardiovascular diseases (CVD) beyond traditional risk factors. Vascular inflammation has previously been demonstrated to be present in PSO and RA using [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) imaging. However, vascular inflammation has not been compared in these two disorders relative to a healthy reference population. Thus, vascular inflammation was quantitatively assessed in patients with PSO (n=10), RA (n=5), and healthy subjects (n=10) using FDG-PET/CT. Methods: FDG-PET/CT mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) was determined slice by slice within the ascending, aortic arch, descending thoracic, suprarenal abdominal, and infrarenal abdominal aorta, and the mean metabolic volumetric product (MVPmean) was then calculated for each aortic subsegment. Plasma lipids and metabolic and inflammatory markers were also assessed. Results: CVD risk profiles were largely similar across groups. After adjustment for CV risk factors, regional aortic vascular inflammation based on MVPmean was elevated for both PSO (beta coefficients 0.31-1.47, p180 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >95 mm Hg), >2 alcoholic beverages per day, non-skin malignant disease within 5 years, positive human immunodeficiency virus status, major surgery within 3 months, history of intravenous drug use, or active infection within the preceding 72 hours. Healthy subjects included those participants without any diagnosis of illness by review of medical records, including LDL
