Arterial properties in adults with long-lasting active juvenile idiopathic arthritis compared to healthy controls

The data on cardiovascular risk and systemic arterial properties in patients with long-lasting juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is limited. The objective of this study was to describe systemic arterial properties including characteristic impedance (Z₀), total arterial compliance (C), and peripheral vascular resistance (R) in patients with long-lasting active JIA compared with matched controls, and to assess the relation to JIA disease variables and traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: Eighty-one JIA patients (median age 38.6) with at least 15 years of active disease were reexamined after median 29 years of disease duration and compared to 41 healthy controls. With use of echocardiography and calibrated right common carotid artery tonometric pulse traces, noninvasive estimates of pressure and blood flow from the aortic root were obtained and used to estimate the systemic arterial parameters Z₀, C and R.

The patients had higher Z₀ as assessed by Windkessel model (mean ± SD 65.0 ± 30.1 versus 53.4 ± 18.8 10^- 3 mmHg/ml/s, p = 0.027), lower C as assessed by either Windkessel model or ratio of stroke volume and pulse pressure (1.57 ± 0.46 versus 1.80 ± 0.65 ml/mmHg, p = 0.030, 1.29 ± 0.37 versus 1.43 ± 0.34 ml/mmHg, p = 0.038), and similar R compared to the controls. Years on daily prednisolone and insulin resistance were the most important correlates of Z_0. Metotrexat use, polyarticular disease course and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were also associated with a higher Z_0. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that JIA patients had altered arterial properties as compared to controls. Years on daily prednisolone and insulin resistance were the most important correlates of altered arterial properties.