“The systemic immune inflammation (SII) index is a simple calculation of neutrophils multiplied by platelets divided by lymphocytes,” Dr Niamh Kearney (St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Ireland) explained [1]. The SII has proven to be a promising prognostic indicator in various cancers, COVID-19 and other diseases. In patients with coronary artery disease, this index provides a better prediction of major cardiovascular events than traditional risk factors [2]. Severe psoriasis is associated with a distinct risk elevation for cardiovascular events and death. With their retrospective cohort study, Dr Kearny and her team wanted to assess whether SII is increased in psoriasis, particularly in psoriasis patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. They also aimed to quantify the SII in psoriasis and stratify it by the presence of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and coronary artery disease. They analysed electronic and physical records from specialty psoriasis clinics. “We looked at demographics, treatments, full blood count, and C-reactive protein results,” Dr Kearney explained. Patients on methotrexate were excluded from the study.
The analysis included data from 73 patients. Most patients were on a biologic and were smokers. Dyslipidaemia was the most common comorbidity prevalent in 12.3% of patients, followed by hypertension in 11% of patients. The mean c-reactive protein (CRP) for patients with cardiovascular comorbidities was 5.01 mg/L compared with 3.53 mg/L without comorbidities (P=0.046).
The researchers found a modest correlation between the CRP concentrations and the SII (r=0.530; P<0.001), and a weak significant correlation between the PASI and SII (r=0.299; P=0.011). However, no difference was observed in smokers, ex-smokers, and never smokers. Psoriasis patients with comorbidity (i.e. diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, or coronary artery disease) had an SII of 859.74 compared with 612.04 (P=0.014) in patients without comorbidity. In the individual comorbidity analysis, only hypertension was associated with a higher CRP of 7.4 mg/L (P<0.001) and an SII of 1038.05 (P=0.004).
The limitations of the study were the small number of patients with comorbidities and the lack of imaging data to confirm the association. Despite this, the authors think that the SII might have a role in risk stratification for primary and secondary prevention in psoriasis patients.
- Kearney N, et al. Systemic immune inflammation index as a predictor of systemic inflammatory burden and cardiovascular comorbidities in psoriasis. FC23, Psoriasis from Gene to Clinic 2021, 9–11 December.
- Yang YL, et al. Eur J Clin Invest 2020;50:e13230.
Copyright ©2021 Medicom Medical Publishers
Posted on
Previous Article
« HLA-C*06:02-positive patients on ustekinumab show higher drug survival in a real-world scenario Next Article
Comorbidity and clinical features of psoriasis vary according to HLA-C*06:02 status »
« HLA-C*06:02-positive patients on ustekinumab show higher drug survival in a real-world scenario Next Article
Comorbidity and clinical features of psoriasis vary according to HLA-C*06:02 status »
Table of Contents: PFGC 2021
Featured articles
Letter from the Editor
Guselkumab shows highest drug survival among systemic treatments
Genes in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
HLA-C*06:02-positive patients on ustekinumab show higher drug survival in a real-world scenario
Protective factors identified against anti-drug antibody formation to adalimumab in psoriasis
Comorbidity in Psoriasis
Psoriasis associated with a higher cancer risk
Comorbidity and clinical features of psoriasis vary according to HLA-C*06:02 status
Psoriasis patients with cardiovascular comorbidity characterised by high systemic inflammation
Psoriasis Therapy: New Findings
Inhibition of heat shock protein: A novel way to treat psoriasis?
Guselkumab shows highest drug survival among systemic treatments
Tapering biologics: No alarming signs of increased anti-drug antibodies
Intermediate monocytes are possible predictors of response to secukinumab
Gut microbiota of psoriasis patients: less diverse and reduced functionality
COVID-19: What's New
DLQI scores underestimated during lockdowns?
TNF blockers likely beneficial for psoriatic patients with COVID-19
Patients on immunomodulators need 2 COVID-19 vaccinations before seroconversion
Paradoxical Reactions to Biologics
The Yin and Yang of opposing vectors: an explanation for side effects of biologics
Explaining arthropathy development through IL-4 and IL-13 blockade
Best of the Posters
Potential biomarker discovered for treatment response to ustekinumab
TNF inhibitor for immune-mediated inflammatory disease doubles the risk of paradoxical psoriasis
Secukinumab also tolerable in paediatric psoriasis patients
High treatment success with ixekizumab in patients with psoriasis and diabetes
Related Articles

September 17, 2021
Psoriasis: New treatments and current pipeline
© 2023 Medicom Medical Publishers. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy