scholarly journals Arterial stiffness correlates with progressive nailfold capillary microscopic changes in systemic sclerosis: results from a cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stergios Soulaidopoulos ◽  
Eleni Pagkopoulou ◽  
Niki Katsiki ◽  
Eva Triantafyllidou ◽  
Asterios Karagiannis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background While microangiopathy is well-documented in systemic sclerosis (SSc), a potential link between SSc and macrovascular disease is highly debated and remains to be established. The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between micro- and macrovascular involvement in the setting of SSc. Methods Consecutive, consenting SSc patients were assessed by nailfold video-capillaroscopy (NVC) to evaluate the microcirculation. The number of capillaries per mm2 and the capillaroscopic skin ulcer risk index (CSURI) were measured, and findings were also classified into three scleroderma patterns (i.e., early, active, and late). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), aortic augmentation index corrected for a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (AIx-75), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), and central systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also determined to assess macrovascular function. Results A total of 37 patients were studied. A significant correlation was observed between AIx and the average number of capillaries per mm2 (r = − 0.34, p = 0.047) and between AIx and CSURI (r = 0.35, p = 0.044). Patients with the “early” scleroderma pattern had lower AIx values compared with “active” (20.5 ± 11.4 vs 34.1 ± 11.5%, p = 0.02) and “late” (20.5 ± 11.4 vs 33.4 ± 8.8%, p = 0.05) patterns. No other significant correlations were found between macrovascular biomarkers (PWV, carotid IMT, systolic and diastolic central blood pressure) and the capillaroscopic measurements. Conclusions These data suggest that arterial stiffness (as assessed by AIx-75) correlates with microvascular damage in patients with SSc.

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 712.1-712
Author(s):  
E. Pagkopoulou ◽  
S. Soulaidopoulos ◽  
E. Triantafyllidou ◽  
N. Katsiki ◽  
G. Kitas ◽  
...  

Background:In systemic sclerosis (SSc), inflammation and microvascular damage are fundamental in the progressive fibrotic process. Although the presence of accelerated atherosclerosis in SSc is not as well-described as in other systemic disorders namely rheumatoid arthritis, it appears that individuals suffering from the disease are at higher risk for cardiovascular events. Nailfold Video Capillaroscopy (NVC) is a non-invasive and reproducible imaging technique of the capillary vascular bed, used in the evaluation of microvascular involvement in SSc. Previous data on the association between micro- and macrovascular damage are scarce.Objectives:The aim of this study was to examine the association between micro- and macrovascular involvement in patients with SSc.Methods:This is a cross-sectional study including consecutive SSc patients attending to a Scleroderma Outpatient Clinic between March and September 2018. All the study participants underwent NVC and the findings were classified in one of the following qualitative patterns: early, active, and late NVC pattern. Capillary’s density was evaluated in the distal row of each finger, based on the number of capillaries per 1 mm and the mean capillaroscopic skin ulcer risk index (CSURI) was automatically calculated with software image analysis. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was measured in the common carotid artery bilaterally, according to the relevant guidelines. Aortic blood pressure (BP), heart rate adjusted augmentation index [AIx(75)] and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) were evaluated with applanation tonometry (Sphygmocor).Results:Sixty-four (95,3% women) SSc individuals with mean age 57.54±12.99 years were included in this analysis. AIx(75) was significantly associated with CSURI (r=0.261; p=0.038) and inversely associated with the number of capillaries (r=-0.271; p=0.030) suggesting a link between the degree of microvascular disease and arterial stiffening. Regarding SSc-specific NVC patterns, AIx(75) were marginally lower in patients with early compared to active or late patterns (25.95±11.27 vs 32.50±11.17 vs 31.62±10.32%; p=0.081 and p=0.083) confirming a trend between progressive microvasculopathy and arterial stiffness. Mean cIMT was negatively correlated with enlarged capillary loops. Brachial or aortic systolic BP (SBP) and pulse pressure (PP) levels were not correlated with any of the studied NVC parameters.Conclusion:Microvascular vasculopathy is associated with higher wave reflections, indicating an association between atherosclerotic disease and microvascular injury in SSc patients. Such observations may provide possible explanations for the excessive cardiovascular and mortality risk in this population.References:[1]Soulaidopoulos, S., Pagkopoulou, E., Katsiki, N. et al. Arterial stiffness correlates with progressive nailfold capillary microscopic changes in systemic sclerosis: results from a cross-sectional study. Arthritis Res Ther 21, 253 (2019)[2]Jung K-H, Lim MJ, Kwon SR, Kim D, Joo K, Park W. Nailfold capillary microscopic changes and arterial stiffness in Korean systemic sclerosis patients. Mod Rheumatol. 2015;25:328–31.[3]Aviña-zubieta JA, Man A, Yurkovich M, Huang K, Sayre EC. Early cardiovascular disease after the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis. Am J Med. 2015;129:324–31Disclosure of Interests:Eleni Pagkopoulou: None declared, Stergios Soulaidopoulos: None declared, Eva Triantafyllidou: None declared, Niki Katsiki: None declared, Georeg Kitas: None declared, Asterios Karagiannis: None declared, Alexandros Garyfallos Grant/research support from: MSD, Aenorasis SA, Speakers bureau: MSD, Novartis, gsk, Theodoros Dimitroulas: None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (7) ◽  
pp. e2581-e2590
Author(s):  
Wen Lun Yuan ◽  
Jinjie Lin ◽  
Michael S Kramer ◽  
Keith M Godfrey ◽  
Peter D Gluckman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In women without diabetes, little is known about the consequences of hyperglycemia during pregnancy for the offspring’s cardiovascular structure and function. Objective To investigate the association of maternal glycemia during pregnancy with cardiovascular risk markers in their children in GUSTO, a Singaporean birth cohort study. Methods Around 26 weeks’ gestation, a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose (PPPG) concentrations were measured. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was defined using WHO 1999 diagnostic criteria. At 6 years of age, we measured the child’s carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), aortic augmentation index (AIx), and blood pressure (BP). Association of maternal glycemia during pregnancy with cardiovascular risk markers in their children were analyzed using multiple linear and logistic regressions. Results Analysis were performed on 479 mother–child dyads. Higher maternal FPG was associated with higher cIMT and, in males, with a higher cfPWV in the offspring (adjusted β [CI 95%], cIMT: 0.08 per 10mm increase [0.02; 0.15], cfPWV: 0.36 m/s [0.01; 0.70]). Higher 2-hour PPPG was associated with higher cfPWV and AIx. Gestational diabetes mellitus was associated with higher AIx. No association was found between maternal glycemia and their offspring blood pressure. Conclusions among mothers without pre-existing diabetes, higher glycemia during pregnancy was associated with mild structural and functional vascular changes in their children at 6 years of age across a continuum. These results support the necessity to monitor maternal glycemia during pregnancy even in the absence of pre-existing diabetes or diagnosed GDM.


Author(s):  
Andrew O. Agbaje ◽  
Alan R. Barker ◽  
Tomi-Pekka Tuomainen

We examined the temporal longitudinal associations of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), a measure of arterial stiffness, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) with the risk of overweight/obesity and elevated blood pressure (BP)/hypertension. We studied 3862 adolescents aged 17.7 years from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, followed-up for 7 years. cfPWV and cIMT were measured by ultrasound. Total and trunk fat mass and lean mass were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Body mass index and BP were measured. Data were analyzed using logistic regression, linear mixed-effect, and cross-lagged structural equation models, with covariate adjustments. Among 1719 male and 2143 female participants, higher cfPWV at 17.7 years was associated with the risk of elevated systolic BP/hypertension (odds ratio, 1.20 [1.02–1.41]; P =0.026), elevated diastolic BP/hypertension (1.77 [1.32–2.38]; P <0.0001), body mass index-overweight/obesity (1.19 [1.01–1.41]; P =0.041), and trunk fat mass overweight/obesity (1.24 [1.03–1.49]; P =0.023) at 24.5 years. Higher cIMT at 17.7 years had no associations with obesity and elevated BP at follow-up. cfPWV progression was directly associated with 7-year increase in systolic BP (effect estimate 16 mm Hg [9–24]; P <0.0001) and diastolic BP (28 mm Hg [23–34]; P <0.0001). cIMT progression was directly associated with the 7-year increase of all adiposity measures and diastolic BP. In the temporal analysis, baseline cfPWV was directly associated with follow-up systolic and diastolic BP, however, baseline BP was unassociated with follow-up cfPWV. cfPWV but not cIMT was bidirectionally associated with adiposity. Obesity and hypertension prevention from adolescence may require developing novel approaches to mitigate arterial stiffness.


Vascular ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-412
Author(s):  
Oscar H Del Brutto ◽  
Victor J Del Brutto ◽  
Robertino M Mera ◽  
Aldo F Costa ◽  
Rubén Peñaherrera ◽  
...  

Objective Information on the associations among arterial stiffness, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaques as biomarkers of atherosclerosis is limited in diverse populations. We aimed to assess whether aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) – as a surrogate of arterial stiffness – is associated with increased cIMT and the presence of carotid plaques in a cohort of older adults of Amerindian ancestry. Methods Atahualpa residents aged ≥60 years ( n = 320) underwent aPWV determinations, and carotid ultrasounds for cIMT and plaque assessment. Multivariate models were fitted to assess the independent association between the aPWV, and cIMT and carotid plaques, after adjusting for relevant confounders. Differences in risk factors across these biomarkers were investigated. Results Mean values of aPWV were 10.3 ± 1.8 m/s, and those of cIMT were 0.91 ± 0.21 mm (24% had a cIMT >1 mm). Carotid plaques were observed in 118 (37%) subjects. In univariate analyses, risk factors associated with an increased aPWV included age, female gender, poor physical activity and high blood pressure. An increased cIMT was associated with age, male gender, a poor diet, high blood pressure and severe tooth loss. The presence of carotid plaques was associated with increasing age, poor physical activity and high blood pressure. Multivariate models showed a significant association between aPWV and cIMT (β: 0.028; 95% C.I.: 0.001–0.056; p =  0.047) but not between aPWV and carotid plaques (OR: 1.14; 95% C.I.: 0.83–1.56; p =  0.423). Conclusions This study shows an independent association between aPWV and cIMT but not with carotid plaques. These biomarkers may indicate distinct phenotypes for atherosclerosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Jud ◽  
Harald H. Kessler ◽  
Marianne Brodmann

Covid-19 infection may be associated with a higher incidence developing cardiovascular complications, however, the underlying mechanisms contributing to cardiovascular complications are largely unknown, while endothelial cell damage may be present. We want to report a 24-year-old woman with Covid-19 infection who had undergone measurements of vascular reactivity and arterial stiffness, including flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD), aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index and carotid intima-media-thickness (cIMT) at the time when Covid-19 was diagnosed. Reduced FMD of 0.0% and NMD of 15.5% were observed, while PWV (5.9 m/s), Aix (27%) and cIMT with 0.4 mm of both common carotid arteries were unremarkable. Repeated measurements of FMD, NMD, PWV, Aix, and cIMT 6 weeks after Covid-19 infection revealed persistently reduced FMD (0.0%), while NMD (17.24%), PWV (5.6 m/s) and augmentation index (13%) ameliorated. This case suggests potential impact of Covid-19 infection on endothelial function, also in young Covid-19 patients without any co-morbidity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Razman MR ◽  
Jamaluddin AR ◽  
Ellyda MN ◽  
Seikh FA

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality in Malaysia as well as in other countries. It is associated with many risk factors, such as increasing age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and autonomic dysfunction and arterial stiffness. The objectives of this study were to measure the prevalence of arterial stiffness and to assess its association with dyslipidemia. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a rural community in Malaysia involving 146 subjects. Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire which included three sections – sociodemographic characteristics, personal profile, and past medical history. In addition, Seca Body Meter (Seca 220) was used to measure height and weight. Sphygmomanometer (OMRON Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor HEM 907) and SphygmoCor-AtCor MM3 SERIAL/RS-232 were used for blood pressure and augmentation index (AIx) measurement. Data were analysed using the SPSS for Windows, Version 18.0. Results: The mean age of respondents was 49.5 years, SD±15.6. The prevalence of arterial stiffness was 23.3% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 16.44 – 30.16). The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 82.9% (95% CI: 76.79 – 89.01). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that total cholesterol was significantly associated with arterial stiffness (OR=4.56, CI 1.10-18.90). Conclusion: The prevalence of dyslipidemia was high. Despite an insignificant association between dyslipidemia and AIx, there is a significant association between TC level and AIx.


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