People on TNF Inhibitors, Oral or Light Therapy Less Likely to Have Heart Attacks, Researchers Find
By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Aug. 20, 2012 -- People with psoriasis, known to be at higher risk of heart attack, had a lower risk when treated with drugs known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, such as Enbrel, Humira or Remicade, compared to medicines applied to the skin, according to new research.
Those on oral medicines such as cyclosporine, methotrexate, Soriatane, or given light therapy had nearly the same reduction in risk, compared to those on skin-based -- or topical -- medicines.
The study was a look back at almost 9,000 patients with the skin disorder psoriasis. They got four different types of treatments. Researchers compared the number of heart attacks in the groups during a four-year follow-up.
The inflammation associated with the skin condition is also linked to an increased risk of heart attack and other vascular problems such as stroke.
"We found those in the TNF inhibitor group had a 50% reduction in heart attack compared to the topical agent group," says Jashin J. Wu, MD, director of dermatology research and associate dermatology residency program director at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center.
"Those in the phototherapy or oral medicine group had a 46% reduction compared to topical," he says. The research found only a link, he says, not cause and effect.
The study results are published in the Archives of Dermatology.
This was published on WebMD.