scholarly journals Cardiovascular Risk and Endothelial Dysfunction in Primary Sjogren Syndrome Is Related to the Disease Activity

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2072
Author(s):  
Anna Łuczak ◽  
Rafał Małecki ◽  
Michał Kulus ◽  
Marta Madej ◽  
Ewa Szahidewicz-Krupska ◽  
...  

The aim of our study was to evaluate if endothelial-dysfunction (ED) occurs in patients with primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS) and whether it is associated with the disease characteristics and activity. A total of 46 patients with pSS and 30 controls, without known cardiovascular disease, were enrolled in this study. A flow-mediated-dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, plasma concentrations of the nitric oxide (NO) metabolic pathway (ADMA, L-arginine, SDMA, cGMP), and markers of endothelial inflammatory function (PAI-1, sE-selectin) and angiogenesis (angiostatin, VEGF) were analyzed. The FMD was significantly lower in pSS patients (7.56 ± 3.08 vs. 10.91 ± 1.02%, p = 0.043) and positively correlated with the Ro/SS-A-antibodies (r = 0.34, p = 0.03), pulmonary involvement (r = 0.52, p = 0.001) and inversely with ADMA (r = −0.35, p = 0.04). Plasma ADMA, L-arginine and angiostatin levels were significantly higher in pSS patients (0.39 ± 0.08 vs. 0.36 ± 0.06 µmol/L, p = 0.05; 29.07 ± 6.7 vs. 25.4 ± 5.23 µmol/L, p = 0.01; 152.25 ± 60.99 vs. 120.07 ± 38.7 pg/mL, p = 0.0, respectively). ADMA was associated with ESSDAI (r = 0.33, p = 0.02), SCORE (r = 0.57, p = 0.00003) and focus score (r = 0.38, p = 0.04). In the multiple regression analysis, the ESSDAI was significantly and independently associated with plasma ADMA levels (β = 0.24, p = 0.04). Moreover, plasma cGMP concentrations were negatively correlated with the disease duration (r = −0.31, p = 0.03). Endothelial function is impaired in patients with pSS and associated with the measures of disease activity, which supports the key-role of inflammation in developing and maintaining accelerated atherosclerosis.

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 1427-1431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Priori ◽  
Antonina Minniti ◽  
Martina Derme ◽  
Barbara Antonazzo ◽  
Filippo Brancatisano ◽  
...  

Objective.To assess the quality of sexual life of women with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and to identify its correlations with disease activity and damage, quality of life, and mood disorders.Methods.The quality of sexual life of 24 women with pSS was assessed with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Twenty-four healthy women, matched by age and hormonal status, were enrolled as controls. Mood disorders and quality of life were investigated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. Patients underwent a gynecological visit with vaginal pH measurement, cervicovaginal swabs, and Pap smears. Disease activity and damage were assessed by the European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren syndrome disease activity and damage indexes.Results.Patients with pSS showed a pathological mean FSFI score (19.1 ± 7.33) significantly different from controls (p = 0.004), both in menstruating women (p = 0.006) and in menopausal women (p = 0.03). Major differences between the 2 groups were detected in dyspareunia (p < 0.005), lubrication (p = 0.006), desire (p = 0.004), and arousal (p = 0.018). The FSFI score was inversely correlated with age (p = 0.008) and anxiety HADS (p = 0.031). No early anatomical changes, swabs, and Pap smear alterations were revealed in patients with pSS; however, vaginal pH was higher than normal in premenopausal patients (6.0 ± 0.77).Conclusion.Both premenopausal and postmenopausal women with pSS have a worse sexual quality of life. We reported a greater prevalence of dyspareunia that is statistically significant when compared with controls. The FSFI could be a useful tool to assess this topic, but has been neglected in the care of patients with pSS heretofore.


2012 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 870-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Akyel ◽  
Y Tavil ◽  
C Yayla ◽  
A Tufan ◽  
A Kaya ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Matilda Nilsson ◽  
Sandra Diaz ◽  
Elke Theander ◽  
Roger Hesselstrand ◽  
Eeva Piitulainen ◽  
...  

Objective.To assess the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and to study the association of COPD with cigarette smoking, radiographic features, respiratory symptoms, disease activity, and laboratory inflammatory and serological features in patients with pSS.Methods.Fifty-one consecutive patients with pSS (mean age 60 yrs, range 29–82 yrs, 49 women) were assessed by pulmonary function tests (PFT). The PFT results were compared with previously studied population-based controls, standardizing results with regard to sex, age, height, weight, and cigarette smoking. In addition, patients with pSS were assessed by computed tomography of the chest, the European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren Syndrome Disease Activity Index and Patient Reported Index, the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (which evaluates respiratory symptoms), and by laboratory inflammatory and serological tests.Results.Forty-one percent of all patients with pSS and 30% of the never-smoking patients with pSS fulfilled the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria for COPD. Vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/VC ratio, and DLCO were significantly decreased while residual volume (RV) and the RV/total lung capacity ratio were significantly increased in patients with pSS. Moderate correlations between PFT results, symptoms, and disease activity were found. However, laboratory inflammatory and serological features were poorly associated with PFT results in patients with pSS.Conclusion.COPD was a common finding in patients with pSS, even among never-smoking patients. An obstructive pattern was the predominant PFT finding in patients with pSS, although a superimposed restrictive lung disease could not be excluded. The results suggest that the disease per se is involved in the development of COPD in pSS.


Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
Chiara Rizzo ◽  
Giulia Grasso ◽  
Giulia Maria Destro Castaniti ◽  
Francesco Ciccia ◽  
Giuliana Guggino

Primary Sjogren Syndrome (pSS) is a complex, multifactorial rheumatic disease that mainly targets salivary and lacrimal glands, inducing epithelitis. The cause behind the autoimmunity outbreak in pSS is still elusive; however, it seems related to an aberrant reaction to exogenous triggers such as viruses, combined with individual genetic pre-disposition. For a long time, autoantibodies were considered as the hallmarks of this disease; however, more recently the complex interplay between innate and adaptive immunity as well as the consequent inflammatory process have emerged as the main mechanisms of pSS pathogenesis. The present review will focus on innate cells and on the principal mechanisms of inflammation connected. In the first part, an overview of innate cells involved in pSS pathogenesis is provided, stressing in particular the role of Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILCs). Subsequently we have highlighted the main inflammatory pathways, including intra- and extra-cellular players. A better knowledge of such processes could determine the detection of new therapeutic targets that are a major need for pSS.


2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 471-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARCIO AUGUSTO De OLIVEIRA ◽  
NATHALIE PEPE MEDEIROS De REZENDE ◽  
CÉLIA MÁRCIA FERNANDES MAIA ◽  
MARINA GALLOTTINI

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 292-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rada V. Moerman ◽  
Suzanne Arends ◽  
Petra M. Meiners ◽  
Arjan Vissink ◽  
Frederik K.L. Spijkervet ◽  
...  

Objective.We used the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and the European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren’s Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) articular domain to assess the effect of rituximab (RTX) and abatacept (ABA) on articular involvement in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS).Methods.Patients with pSS treated with RTX (n = 18) or ABA (n = 13) and having a DAS28 erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)/C-reactive protein (CRP) level ≥ 3.2 at baseline were selected. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the DAS28 and ESSDAI articular domain over time.Results.In the RTX group, DAS28-ESR/CRP decreased significantly up to 48 weeks. In the ABA group, DAS28-ESR/CRP decreased significantly up to 24 weeks. DAS28 correlated significantly with ESSDAI articular domain.Conclusion.DAS28 is useful to evaluate the effect of biologicals on articular involvement in patients with pSS.


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