Key clinical point: Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with vs without nail involvement had higher rates of carotid plaque (CP) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Additionally, nail involvement in PsA was independently associated with CP risk.
Major finding: Patients with vs without nail involvement showed a higher prevalence of CP (53.1% vs 25.0%; P = .021) and cIMT (0.85 vs 0.59 mm; P = .026). The nail involvement was an independent risk factor for the presence of CP (odds ratio, 6.64; P = .006).
Study details: Findings are from a cross-sectional, observational study involving 64 patients with PsA. Patients with nail involvement were matched by age, gender, and type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis to those without nail involvement.
Disclosures: No specific funding or conflicts of interest were declared.
Source: Colunga-Pedraza IJ et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021 Jun 24. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220782 .