Links and risks associated with psoriasis and metabolic syndrome

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis has long been considered a systemic inflammatory disease. Lately, it has been strongly associated with obesity, as well as other components of metabolic syndrome, such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and arterial hypertension. METHODS: We reviewed the literature of the last decade by using the keywords: psoriasis, metabolic syndrome, and/or obesity in PubMed and Medline. RESULTS: Obesity and psoriasis seem to share similar profiles of systemic inflammation. Serum cytokines such as TNF-α, CRP, IL-6, and IL-12 are elevated in both disorders. The more severely an individual is affected with psoriasis, the more likely it is to be obese. This makes the disease an important health care issue, which requires the cooperation of dermatologists with other medical specialists. DISCUSSION: This review attempts to summarize the links and risks that associate psoriasis with obesity, and highlight the concerns and queries for both disorders in the future.