Background: Inflammatory activity in rheumatological diseases such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been related to an increase in cardiovascular comorbidities in this group of patients. The neutrophil-lymphocyte (NLR), platelet-neutrophil (PNR) and platelet-lymphocyte (PLR) ratios have been proposed as predictors of progression, cardiovascular events and mortality in these diseases.

Objectives: To assess the potential relationship between NLR, PNR and PLR values, subclinical vascular damage (atheroesclerosis), major cardiovascular events (MACE), disease severity and mortality in patients with PsA.

Methods: This retrospective study included all individuals from a longitudinal cohort of patients with PsA from three hospitals in eastern Spain. The inclusion criteria were age > 18 years, diagnosis of PsA according to CASPAR criteria and disease duration longer than 6 months. The exclusion criteria were axial involvement, chronic kidney disease with glomerular filtration rate less than 60 mg/dL, history of MACE before diagnosis and type II or type I diabetes mellitus with target organ damage. NLR, PNR and PLR were calculated using the values at diagnosis. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, laboratory and cardiovascular assessment data (including extracranial carotid ultrasonography at baseline) were obtained from the analysis of the patients database.

Results: The cohort consists of 152 patients, 51% women and 49% men with a mean age at diagnosis of 66 years (SD ± 19.87). 32% are smokers and 20% are former smokers. 27% of the patients had subclinical atherosclerosis, 33% experienced one or more vascular events (40% cardiac, 40% extremity, and 20% cerebral) and 3 patients died during follow-up. Only one of the deaths was related to cardiovascular events. The mean values of PLR, PNR, and NLR at diagnosis were 128.1 (SD ± 55.33), 63.15 (SD ± 20.97), and 2.19 (SD ± 1.11), respectively. Lower PLR values were significantly associated with the presence of atheromatous plaques (p = 0.031) and overall mortality (p = 0.023). Values above 66.41 were associated with higher mortality in our patients (AUC = 0.029; p = 0.023) with a sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 96%. We found no relationship between PNR or NLR and the variables studied.

Conclusion: The assessment of PLR at diagnosis may be useful as a predictor of cardiovascular risk and mortality in patients with PsA.

REFERENCES: NIL.

Acknowledgements: NIL.

Disclosure of Interests: None declared.