Psoriasis Health Center

Severe Psoriasis May Up Risk of Death

Is Inflammation to Blame? continued...

Inflammation within the body is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to a host of life-threatening conditions.

"We know that chronic inflammation is bad for a variety of organs and that it is probably involved in a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes," Gelfand says.

Horn says the latest research should serve as a wake-up call to patients and their doctors that severe psoriasis is a serious disease.

"We are learning that there is something happening in people with severe psoriasis that may not be happening with milder forms of the disease," she says.

Horn and Gelfand agree that patients with severe psoriasis need to be especially vigilant about taking care of their overall health.

"It is very important for these patients to see their internist regularly, to have age-appropriate screenings, and to have their cardiovascular risks assessed and treated, if necessary," Gelfand says.