Association Between Soluble Lectinlike Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1 and Coronary Artery Disease in Psoriasis.

This cohort study examines whether soluble lectinlike oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 levels are associated with noncalcified coronary burden over time in patients with psoriasis. Question Are soluble lectinlike oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) levels associated with noncalcified coronary burden in patients with psoriasis? Findings In this cohort study of 175 consecutive patients with psoriasis, sLOX-1 levels were elevated in patients with psoriasis compared with age- and sex-matched controls and associated with noncalcified coronary burden independent of hyperlipidemia status. At 1 year, in those who had clinical improvement in psoriasis, a reduction in sLOX-1 level was associated with a reduction in noncalcified coronary burden. Meaning These findings suggest that reductions of sLOX-1 level at 1 year are associated with improvements in patients with psoriasis. Importance Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with accelerated noncalcified coronary burden (NCB) by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), accelerates lipoprotein oxidation in the form of oxidized modified lipoproteins. A transmembrane scavenger receptor for these oxidized modified lipoproteins is lectinlike oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), which has been reported to be associated with coronary artery disease. It is unknown whether this receptor is associated with coronary artery disease in psoriasis. Objective To assess the association between soluble LOX-1 (sLOX-1) and NCB in psoriasis over time. Design, Setting, and Participants In a cohort study at the National Institutes of Health, 175 consecutive patients with psoriasis were referred from outpatient dermatology practices between January 1, 2013, and October 1, 2017. A total of 138 consecutively recruited patients with psoriasis were followed up at 1 year. Exposures Circulating soluble lectinlike oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 levels were measured blindly by field scientists running undiluted serum using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Main Outcomes and Measures Coronary computed tomography angiography scans were performed to quantify NCB in all 3 major epicardial coronary arteries by a reader blinded to patient demographics, visit, and treatment status. Results Among the 175 patients with psoriasis, the mean (SD) age was 49.7 (12.6) years and 91 were men (55%). The cohort had relatively low median cardiovascular risk by Framingham risk score (median, 2.0 [interquartile range (IQR), 1.0-6.0]) and had a mean (SD) body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) suggestive of overweight profiles (29.6 [6.0]). Elevated sLOX-1 levels were found in patients with psoriasis compared with age- and sex-matched controls (median, 210.3 [IQR, 110.9-336.2] vs 83.7 [IQR, 40.1-151.0]; P < .001), and were associated with Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score (beta = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.082-0.374; P = .003). Moreover, sLOX-1 was associated with NCB independent of hyperlipidemia status (beta = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.016-0.200; P = .023), an association which persisted after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, statin use, and biologic psoriasis treatment (beta = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.014-0.193; P = .03). At 1 year, in those who had clinical improvement in PASI (eg, >50% improvement), a reduction in sLOX-1 (median, 311.1 [IQR, 160.0-648.8] vs median, 224.2 [IQR, 149.1 - 427.4]; P = .01) was associated with a reduction in NCB (beta = 0.14; 95% CI, 0.028-0.246; P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance Soluble lectinlike oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 levels were elevated in patients with psoriasis and were associated with severity of skin disease. Moreover, sLOX-1 associated with NCB independent of hyperlipidemia status, suggesting that inflammatory sLOX-1 induction may modulate lipid-rich NCB in psoriasis. Improvement of skin disease was associated with a reduction of sLOX-1 at 1 year, demonstrating the potential role of sLOX-1 in inflammatory atherogenesis in psoriasis.