Current evidence on the role of lipid lowering drugs in the treatment of psoriasis.

Background: Abnormal lipid distribution is observed in patients with psoriasis, which increases their risk for atherosclerosis. Lipid-lowering drugs have a certain curative effect in the treatment of psoriasis, but there is no relevant evidence-based medical evaluation. Objective: The purpose of this systematic evaluation was to assess the efficacy, safety, and potential mechanisms of action of lipid-lowering drugs for the treatment of psoriasis. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Clinical Trial, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang Database were searched for relevant articles from inception to 31 December 2021. The RevMan 5.3 and Cochrane risk-of-bias tool were used for data analysis and risk assessment, respectively. The psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score is the primary outcome indicator in clinical studies. Based on preclinical studies, we elucidated and mapped the action mechanisms of lipid-lowering drugs in the treatment of psoriasis. Results: The study included eight randomized controlled studies, four single-arm studies, and four Limitations: There are few studies on lipid-lowering drugs and psoriasis, and their small sample sizes may render the evidence unconvincing. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that lipid-lowering drugs are relieving symptoms in psoriasis. Lipid-lowering drugs, particularly statins, can be used to treat psoriasis with good efficacy and few side effects.