Research Substantiates Psoriasis/Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Link

Psoriatic patients with NAFLD had a more severe elatographichepatic damage if they had a higher level of psoriasis severity.

The severity of psoriasis is related to the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to research presented at the 28th European Dermato-Venereology Society Congress in Madrid.

Patients with psoriasis and NAFLD had more severe hepatic damage if they had a higher severity of psoriasis,  based on ultrasound elastography measurements.  

Researchers from La Paz Hospital in Madrid investigated 64 male patients diagnosed with severe psoriasis and NAFLD, who had a mean age of 53.4 years. The severity of psoriasis was  measured  by using the Psoriasis Area and Severity  Index  (PASI)  Score.  Ultrasound elastography,  which maps the elastic properties of soft tissue,  was  used to evaluate the stiffness of the liver and detect NAFLD.

Psoriatic patients with  NAFLD  had  a more severe elatographichepatic damage if they had a higher level of psoriasis severity, the study found.

“Previous research has already established a link between psoriasis and NAFLD. This is one of the first studies to assess the relationship between the severity of psoriasis with the severity of NAFLD,” says Dr.Daniel Nieto, lead researcher of the study. “In this context, increasing awareness and the continued assessment of the severity of NAFLD in  patients  with  psoriasis  by  primary  care  physicians,  specialists,  health  policymakers  and patients, should be prioritized to help manage both conditions.”

More evidence

The relationship between the severity of psoriasis and NAFLD in psoriasis patients is also supported by newly released findings from a separate, descriptive study, which was conducted by researchers based in Iran, in 54 male psoriasis patients.  Analyses from the Iranian study showed that the prevalence of NAFLD was high in patients with psoriasis and the severity of the NAFLD increased in high-grade psoriasis cases. Also, the severity of the NAFLD had a positive correlation with the grade of psoriasis, which is due to pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipocytokine. The severity of psoriasis in the Iranian study was also assessed by using PASI Score, and the different factors of NAFLD were measured.  The  data collected  were  analyzed  by  using SPSS16 statistical software and chi-square, in addition to Fisher exact test