**12. Psoriasis and metabolic syndrome**

Metabolic syndrome is a set of metabolic alterations, particularly insulin resistance, which, together, lead to a greater risk of pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic alterations. A number of studies have suggested an increase in the prevalence of the components of metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis (Cohen et al., 2008; Neimann et al., 2006; Sommer et al., 2006).

Patients with psoriasis have a greater prevalence of metabolic syndrome in comparison to those with other dermatological conditions (30.1% vs 20.6%; OR: 1.65; 95%CI: 1.16 to 2.35) (Gisondi et al., 2007). However, few studies have considered the possibility of associating the treatment for psoriasis with the components of metabolic syndrome (Fu &Vender, 2011). A case report of a patient with psoriasis and metabolic syndrome suggests that the treatment program designed by nutritionists and endocrinologists through the modification of diet and treatment of comorbidities provided an improvement in blood glucose, cholesterol and BMI, along with a clinical improvement in psoriasis (Saraceno et al., 2008).
