Evaluation of cardiovascular disease risk factors in patients with mycosis fungoides

BACKGROUND

Mycosis fungoides, the most common subtype of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, is morecommon in patients aged 45-55.

OBJECTIVE

Cardiovascular risk factors have been investigated in several skin diseases.However, the relation between cardiovascular diseases and mycosis fungoidesremains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess cardiovascularrisk factors in patients with mycosis fungoides.

METHODS

32 patients with mycosis fungoides and 26 healthy controls were enrolled in thestudy. Glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,triglyceride, homocystein, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, low-densitylipoprotein – cholesterol, were measured in the sera of patients.

RESULTS

Patients had significantly higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein,homocysteine, low-density lipoprotein - cholesterol, total cholesterol (p= 0.032)(p< 0.001) (p= 0.001) (p< 0.001). There was a positive correlation betweenthe levels of homo-cysteine and total cholesterol (p= 0.001, r = +0.431).Additionally, a significantly positive correlation was found between the levels ofhigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein and low-density lipoprotein - cholesterol (p=0.014, r = +0.320) in patient group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with mycosis fungoides had significantly higher levels oftotal-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein -cholesterol, homocysteine andhigh-sensitivity C-reactive protein than healthy subjects. The present study hasdemonstrated an increased rate of cardiovascular risk in patients with mycosisfungoides. Even though the etiology of these associations is elusive,dermatologists should be sensitized to investigate metabolic derangements inpatients with mycosis fungoides, in order to lessen mortality and comorbidity witha multidisciplinary approach.