Single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder with an increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). This retro-spective study aimed to evaluate the rate of myocardial ischaemia in patients with psoriasis subjected to myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Material and methods: Twelve patients with moderate to severe psoriasis that had MPI were compared to 395 MPIs randomly retrieved from our MPIs pool data. All patients had a [Tc-99(m)]tetrofosmin stress - rest single-photon emission computer tomography ([Tc-99m]SPECT). Summed difference scores (SDS) were calculated for stress (SSS), rest (SIRS) and their difference (SDS = SSS - SIRS). Results: There was no significant difference in the frequency of abnormal MPI SPECT outcomes between patients with vs. without psoriasis (6/12 vs 214/395 respectively; p = 0.778). From the evaluation of SSS, SIRS and SDS, only the SDS scores of inadequately compensated resting perfusion defects were significantly lower in patients with psoriasis (p = 0.012). Conclusions: Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis had a similar rate of abnormal SSS scans compared to control patients. However, the SDS scans were significantly lower in patients with psoriasis indicating compromised reversibility of resting perfusion defects. Larger controlled studies are needed to verify these observations.