Both metabolic syndrome components and related medical conditions seen at similar rates between patients with and without isolated nail psoriasis.

Isolated nail psoriasis does not increase risk for metabolic syndrome, according to a letter to the editor in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology.

The analysis included 156 patients with a diagnosis code for isolated nail psoriasis  and controls. There was no difference between nail psoriasis patients and controls for average body mass index and systolic blood pressure, for either closest to diagnosis or highest value recorded. 

The groups had similar rates for metabolic syndrome components including hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein, elevated hemoglobin A1c or related medical conditions such as  hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. 

"Isolated NP patients can be counselled that they are not at significantly higher risk for metabolic syndrome, which may help decrease patient anxiety and health care costs associated with additional monitoring," the study authors conclude.