By david Liu, PHD

Monday Aug 20, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- A meta-analysis published in the Aug 16, 2012 issue of British Journal of Dermatology suggests that a person with a skind disorderc called psoriasis are at higher risk for deadly stroke and myocardial infarction or heart attack.

The meta-analysis of  a number of previous observational studies found that a person with psoriasis were 20 percent more likely than those who did not have the condition to suffer stroke and or myocardial infarction.

T. Xu  and Y. Zhang of Medical College of Soochow University in Suzhou China conducted the meta-analysis of data from seven cohort studies on the association between psoriasis and stroke or myocardial infarction.

The researchers concluded "This meta-analysis of cohort studies suggests that psoriasis significantly increases the risk of stroke and MI (myocardial infarction). The increase is probably independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors."

Psoriasis is a common, chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales.  The condition occurs often in adults and it can last a long time or even a lifetime.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases states some problem with the immune system causes the skin disorder.  Infections, stress, dry skin, and certain medications make the disease worse.

Psoriasis can be treated in many ways including topical treatments, light therapy and oral or injected medications.

Topical treatments for psoriasis include topical corticosteroids, vitamin D analogues, anthralin, topical retinoids, calcineurin inhibitors, salicylic acid, coal tar, and moisturizers.

Light therapy for psoriasis include sunlight, UVB phototherapy, narrowband UVB therapy, Goeckerman therapy, photochemotherapy or psoralen plus ultraviolet A, excimer laser, pulsed dye laser, and combined light therapy.

Oral or injected medications for psoriasis include retinoids, methotrexate, cycloporine, hydroxyurea, immunomodulator drugs, and thioguanine.