Triglyceride glucose index: a novel biomarker in the management of patients with psoriasis

OBJECTIVE: Triglyceride glucose index is a recently described biomarker that has been associated with various systemic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases. Within this study, we evaluated the effect of biological agent treatment on triglyceride glucose index in patients with psoriasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 2019 and October 2022, the triglyceride glucose index was retrospectively reviewed in patients with psoriasis before and three months after the initiation of biological agent treatment. RESULTS: This study included 91 patients, 37 females and 54 males, with a mean age of 46.27 +/- 12.39 years. The mean triglyceride glucose index in patients with and without psoriatic arthritis was 8,137.20 +/- 5,294.01 and 6,310.04 +/- 3,341.63, respectively (p=0.047). The median triglyceride glucose index in all patients before and after biological agent treatment was 6,048 (4,597) and 5,095.5 (4,123), respectively (p=0.003). When evaluated according to the treatment groups, the decrease in triglyceride glucose index after treatment was statistically significant only in patients treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors (p=0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Since triglyceride glucose index has been associated with atherosclerosis in psoriasis, treatment with TNF-alpha inhibitors might indicate a positive impact in psoriasis patients, especially with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, the triglyceride glucose index was significantly higher in patients with psoriatic arthritis compared to those without arthritis. Therefore, we suggest that triglyceride glucose index may be used as a novel diagnostic biomarker in patients with psoriatic arthritis.