Patients with psoriasis are at a higher risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Summary Background Psoriasis is a chronic, immune‐mediated inflammatory skin disease with many extracutaneous manifestations. Several recent studies have indicated an increased prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ) among patients with psoriasis. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of NAFLD in a population of I ranian patients with psoriasis. Methods NAFLD was assessed and graded using ultrasonography in 123 patients with psoriasis and 123 healthy controls ( HC s) matched by age, sex and body mass index ( BMI ). Results The prevalence of NAFLD was significantly higher in the psoriatic group compared with the HC group (65.6% vs. 35%, P  < 0.01, OR  = 3.53). Median NAFLD grade was significantly greater in patients with psoriasis compared with HC s (grade 2 vs. grade 1, P  < 0.01). In patients with psoriasis, NAFLD was associated with a higher frequency of hypertension (16.5%), abnormal liver function test ( LFT ) results (16.4%) and metabolic syndrome (46.6%). Moreover, patients with psoriasis and NAFLD tended to have significantly higher values for BMI , waist circumference ( WC ), P soriasis A ctivity and S everity I ndex ( PASI ), and levels of serum triglyceride, cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein and fasting blood sugar ( FBS ). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that WC , PASI , LFT abnormalities, hypertension and cigarette smoking were independent predictors of NAFLD grade. Conclusions Our findings warrant a detailed assessment of metabolic comorbidities including NAFLD in patients with a primary diagnosis of psoriasis. Lifestyle modifications, including weight loss and smoking cessation, may be necessary for patients with psoriasis to decrease the risk and severity of NAFLD .