Study of Association of Atherosclerotic Risk Factors and Metabolic Syndrome in Patients of Psoriasis at a Tertiary Care Centre in North India: A Case Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between psoriasis and atherosclerotic risk factors, including metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Fifty patients with psoriasis and 50 controls were included in the study. Atherosclerotic risk factors were evaluated as per National Cholesterol Education Project Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed as per South Asian Modified -National Cholesterol Education Programme's Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III). RESULTS: Psoriatic patients had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertriglyceridaemia (≥150 mg/dl) (p=0.013), low HDL (< 40mg/dl) (p=0.025), impaired fasting blood glucose (≥100 mg/dl) (p=0.026). Metabolic syndrome was present in significant number of psoriasis patients than in controls [42 (28%) versus 9 (6%)] (P=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerotic risk factors in psoriasis patients as compared to controls.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of gallbladder volume in diabetics.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: Ultrasonographic determination of gallbladder volume in diabetics [both type I and type 2], it's comparison with a control group, and correlation of gallbladder volume in diabetics with parameters such as age, sex, body mass index, parity, hyperlipidaemia, and autonomic neuropathy. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Ninety one cases of diabetes mellitus and 40 healthy controls were recruited for the study. A detailed history and physical examination were recorded. Laboratory investigations done were--fasting and postprandial blood sugar, glycosylated haemoglobin, microalbuminuria, and serum lipid profile. Autonomic neuropathy was determined by using simple non-invasive bedside tests. Fasting gallbladder volume was measured by ultrasonography (calculated by ellipsoid formula). RESULTS: The mean fasting gallbladder volume was 18.20 +/- 2.54 ml in type I diabetics and 25.87 +/- 13.90 ml in type 2 diabetics, with a minimum value of 9.30 ml and maximum value of 88 ml. When type 2 diabetics were subgrouped according to the presence of autonomic neuropathy, higher gallbladder volumes were seen in patients with autonomic neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Cholecystomegaly, to a significant degree, was found in type 2 diabetics in the present study. It was significantly correlated with age, body mass index, and the severity of autonomic neuropathy. In male type 2 diabetics, gallbladder volume was significantly correlated with LDL cholesterol levels. In female type 2 diabetics, gallbladder volume was significantly correlated with waist-hip ratio. Gallbladder volume also had significant correlation with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, but not with glycaemic control, microalbuminuria, hypertension, or the duration of diabetes.