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Flow Mediated Dilation in Systemic Sclerosis: Association with clinical findings, capillaroscopic patterns and

Addolorata Corrado1, Natalia Mansueto1, Michele Correale2

  • 1Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto 1, Foggia, Italy.

Vascular Pharmacology
|December 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Systemic Sclerosis patients show endothelial dysfunction, indicated by lower Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD) and higher vascular markers. These FMD impairments correlate with disease severity and complications, highlighting FMD and biomarkers for assessing SSc vasculopathy.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Rheumatology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Endothelial dysfunction is central to vascular damage in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).
  • Understanding SSc pathophysiology requires assessing endothelial function and related biomarkers.
  • Microvascular and macrovascular complications are significant in SSc patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate endothelial dysfunction in SSc using Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD).
  • To measure serum levels of key endothelial dysfunction markers: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and angiopoietin-2.
  • To correlate macrovascular damage with clinical findings and microvascular patterns in SSc.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 57 SSc patients and 37 healthy controls.
  • Performed radial artery FMD testing and Nailfold Video-Capillaroscopy.
  • Assessed serum levels of VEGF, VCAM-1, and angiopoietin-2.

Main Results:

  • SSc patients exhibited significantly lower FMD and higher time to maximal FMD response compared to controls.
  • Serum levels of VEGF, VCAM-1, and angiopoietin-2 were significantly elevated in SSc patients.
  • Impaired FMD correlated with disease duration, pulmonary arterial hypertension, digital ulcers, and microvascular damage. VEGF and angiopoietin-2 were higher in patients with digital ulcers and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Conclusions:

  • Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD) ultrasound and circulating endothelial dysfunction markers show potential as biomarkers for vasculopathy in SSc.
  • These assessments can aid in evaluating vascular injury in Systemic Sclerosis patients.
  • Integrating FMD and biomarker analysis offers a comprehensive approach to understanding SSc vascular complications.
Abstract

Keywords:
Endothelial activation markersEndothelial dysfunctionFlow mediated dilationNailfold video-capillaroscopySystemic sclerosis

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