CLEVELAND, OH - The effects of psoriasis may not be just skin deep.
According to a new study out of Denmark, the skin condition may raise a person's risk of a potentially deadly aneurysm.
The study, published in the Journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, looked at nearly 60,000 people with mild psoriasis and more than 11,000 people with severe psoriasis.
Researchers found that as the severity of a person's psoriasis increased, so did the person's risk for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Over the 14-year study period, fifty people with severe psoriasis and 240 people with a mild form of the condition developed an aneurysm.
Researchers say because of the possible link, patients with psoriasis should be more aware of the risks of cardiovascular diseases, but more information is needed to determine whether the patients should undergo additional screenings for aneurysms.
There is currently no cure for psoriasis, but certain drugs can help manage symptoms.