A team of researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute found that a drug used to treat psoriasis is effective in lowering the risk of heart disease.
The study conducted among a randomized, controlled sample found that patients suffering from aortic inflammation, who took the drug Ustekinumab, saw a 19 percent decrease in the swelling of the artery.
Researchers say that, when left untreated, aortic inflammation eventually leads to an increased risk of heart disease.
According to past studies, severe to moderate cases of psoriasis have been linked to heart disease.
In light of this, scientists wanted to know if Ustekinumab, commonly sold under the name Stelara, has benefits that go beyond clearing psoriasis.
According to professor Joel M. Gelfand of Dermatology and Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania, the inflammation we see on psoriasis patients is similar to what is observed in a heart condition called atherosclerosis -- which happens when fat and cholesterol build up on artery walls.
Since the drug Ustekinumab blocks pathways involved in both cardiovascular and skin inflammation, Gelfand and his team wanted to try out its effectivity in relieving aortic inflammation.
The investigation, as mentioned, proved to be fruitful, showing a dramatic decrease in both skin and cardiovascular inflammation in patients under the controlled population.
Proponents of the said research hope that this new treatment will reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in the future.
The American Heart Association notes that cardiovascular disease accounts for over 800,000 deaths in the United States. It remains as the primary cause of deaths in people living inside the federal-run nation. 92.1 million American adults are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, they added.
Meanwhile, psoriasis affects 100 million people worldwide as stated in the most recent global report released by the World Health Organization.
