Haemorheological profile in patients with systemic sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Rheology
• Hematology
• Systemic Sclerosis

Background:

• The rheological alterations in systemic sclerosis (SSc) are not well-established.
• Understanding blood flow properties is crucial for SSc pathogenesis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively evaluate the rheological profile in SSc patients.
• To investigate the relationship between rheological parameters, inflammation, and clinical markers in SSc.

Main Methods:

• Compared rheological parameters (blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation, erythrocyte deformability) in 27 SSc patients and controls.
• Assessed inflammatory markers (fibrinogen, CRP), lipids, and erythrocyte indices.
• Correlated rheological findings with inflammation markers and autoantibodies.

Main Results:

• SSc patients demonstrated significantly higher fibrinogen, plasma viscosity, and erythrocyte aggregation (P<0.01).
• Erythrocyte deformability was significantly lower in SSc patients (P<0.01).
• Reduced erythrocyte deformability correlated negatively with inflammation markers (CRP, fibrinogen) and was lower in patients with anticentromere antibodies.

Conclusions:

• Systemic sclerosis is associated with significant rheological disturbances, characterized by increased viscosity and aggregation, and impaired deformability.
• Decreased erythrocyte deformability appears linked to inflammatory processes and may be influenced by specific autoantibodies in SSc.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the clinical significance of these rheological findings in SSc.