Some antihypertensive medications increase risk of psoriasis, find studies

The analysis is published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

Diverse genetic and/or external factors may induce psoriasis. Drug exposure is 1 such prominent external factor; antihypertensive drugs are reportedly associated with psoriasis, but study results have been inconsistent. In this context, we investigated the associations between antihypertensive drugs and incidence if psoriasis via a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

The researchers carried out literature search in databases such as PubMed, Embase and Web of Science was conducted on 8 January 2021, and obtained data were pooled for meta- and network meta-analysis. Fixed- or random effect models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for evaluating the strength of the associations between antihypertensive drugs and psoriasis incidence. In addition to meta-analysis, Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed.

In the meta analysis, thirteen eligible studies were included for meta-analysis with 6 378 116 individuals and 8 studies for network meta-analysis with 5 615 918 individuals. All antihypertensive drugs were significantly associated with psoriasis incidence. In a meta-analysis, the pooled ORs were 1.67 for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, 1.40 for β-blockers, 1.53 for calcium-channel blockers (CCBs), and 1.70 for thiazide diuretics. 

The authors of the analysis propose several mechanisms by which blood pressure medications may affect an individual's risk of developing skin conditions.

The study confirmed the associations between antihypertensive drugs and psoriasis; ACE inhibitors, BBs, CCBs and thiazide diuretics increased the risk of psoriasis. 

"Our findings indicate that patients who take antihypertensive drugs should be carefully monitored for psoriasis," said senior author Hye Sun Gwak, PharmD, PhD, of Ewha Womans University, in Seoul.

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