Effect of rosuvastatin as add-on to standard treatment on disease severity, inflammatory, and angiogenic biomarkers in chronic plaque psoriasis patients having cardiovascular risk: A nonrandomized, assessor blind, controlled clinical trial (RoSInA-P3 trial)

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the effect of rosuvastatin on disease severity, inflammatory, and angiogenic markers in plaque psoriasis patients having cardiovascular (CV) risk. Methodology: In this nonrandomized, assessor blind clinical trial, plaque psoriasis patients were allocated to rosuvastatin add-on ( n = 24) or standard therapy group ( n = 24) depending upon baseline CV risk. The primary outcome was the mean change in psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score at 12 weeks from baseline. Other outcomes were PASI 50 and PASI 75, change in dermatology life quality index (DLQI) scores, lipid profile, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, vascular endothelial growth factor, and interleukin-17 levels. Results: At 12 weeks, the mean (standard deviation) change from baseline PASI was −2.34 (2.81) in the rosuvastatin and −1.93 (3.33) standard therapy groups ( P = 0.38). The rosuvastatin group exhibited an earlier and consistent improvement in disease severity; 3 (17.64%) patients receiving rosuvastatin achieved PASI 50 at 4 weeks compared to none in the standard. The difference in mean change in DLQI and biochemical parameters between the two groups was not statistically significant. Both the groups had comparable safety profile. Conclusion: Rosuvastatin may be considered a potential add-on treatment in plaque psoriasis patients having intermediate or high CV risk.