Background:Together with autoimmune-inflammation and fibrosis, microvasculopathy is a hallmark of SSc. However, also macrovascular changes may occur including peripheral proliferative vasculopathy. Whether this changes may represent a specific SSc marker with a predictive value remains a matter of debate.[1,2,3]Objectives:To study peripheral macrovascular involvement by color doppler ultrasound (CDUS) with spectral wave analysis (SWA) in a cohort of 40 SSc patients as compared to healthy controls. To further analyze any differences among the SSc population.Methods:Forty SSc patients and 36 healthy controls were examined by CDUS with SWA of both hands. Macrovascular involvement was assessed by measuring the resistivity index (RI) of distal ulnar and radial arteries. Examinations were performed with an Esaote MyLab Twice machine equipped with a linear 10-22 MHz probe. Ultrasound examination was carried out by two independent rheumatologists blinded to clinical conditions of the patients. Statistical analysis was performed by using MaxStat software.Results:The RI index resulted increased in the SSc cohort as compared with healthy controls (left ulnar RI 0.977 vs 0.715; right ulnar RI 0.996 vs 0.699; left radial RI 0.988 vs 0.706; right radial RI 0.999 vs 0.688; p<0.001). SSc patients with an increased RI in one artery were more probable to have an increased RI in the other vessels too (r 2 = 0.35; p<0.01). In addition, 8 out of 40 SSc patients presented left ulnar artery occlusion (UAO) and 7 out of 40 SSc patients presented right UAO, of which 6 presented bilateral UAO. Awaiting to enlarge the cohort for further analysis, descriptive data regarding increased RI at CDUS/SWA and clinical features, including years from onset of the disease, subtype of SSc, mRSS, history of digital ulcers, interstitial lung disease and PAH are described in Table 1.Conclusion:Peripheral macrovascular involvement was observed in SSc patients as compared with healthy controls. Further studies will determine whether this feature may have specificity for diagnosis/prognosis in SSc.References:[1]Lescoat A, Yelnik CM, Coiffier G et al. Ulnar Artery Occlusion and Severity Markers of Vasculopathy in Systemic Sclerosis: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71:983-990.[2]Lescoat A, Coiffier G, Rouil A et al. Vascular Evaluation of the Hand by Power Doppler Ultrasonography and New Predictive Markers of Ischemic Digital Ulcers in Systemic Sclerosis: Results of a Prospective Pilot Study. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017;69:543-551.[3]Schioppo T, Orenti A, Boracchi P, De Lucia O, Murgo A, Ingegnoli F. Evidence of macro- and micro-angiopathy in scleroderma: An integrated approach combining 22-MHz power Doppler ultrasonography and video-capillaroscopy. Microvasc Res. 2019;122:125-130.Table 1.Main clinical features of the SSc cohort (n=40) studied by CDUS for macrovascular involvement.SSc cohort (n = 40)Years from onsetrange (35 y – 0 y)mean = 10.5 yAutoantibodiesACA 13/40Anti-TopoI 14/40Other 13/40mRSSrange (0 -30)mean = 3ILD17/40PAH7/40Capillaroscopy patternEarly 10/40Active 11/40Late 6/40History of digital ulcers16/40Left ulnar IR0.977Left radial IR0.988Right ulnar IR0.996Right radial IR0.999Disclosure of Interests:None declared.
Gender differences in systemic sclerosis: relationship to clinical features, serologic status and outcomes
