Colaci Michele, Zanoli Luca, Lo Gullo Alberto, Sambataro Domenico, Sambataro Gianluca, Aprile Maria Letizia, Castellino Pietro, Malatino Lorenzo
Rheumatology Clinic, Internal Medicine Unit, AOE Cannizzaro, 95126 Catania, Italy.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy.
J Clin Med. 2022 Jun 7;11(12):3256. doi: 10.3390/jcm11123256.
(1) Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction and fibrosis of skin and visceral organs. In the last decade, attention has been focused on the macrovascular involvement of the disease. In particular, the observation of increased arterial stiffness represented an interesting aspect of the disease, as predictor of cardiovascular risk. (2) Methods: We recruited 60 SSc patients (52 ± 12 years old, 90% females) and 150 age/sex-matched healthy controls in order to evaluate both intima-media thickness of the right common carotid artery and arterial stiffness using the B-mode echography and the SphygmoCor system® tonometer. (3) Results: The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was higher in SSc patients than in controls (8.6 ± 1.7 vs. 7.8 ± 1.5 m/s; p < 0.001), as was the carotid-radial PWV (7.8 ± 1.1 vs. 6.7 ± 1.4 m/s; p < 0.001). The intima-media thickness was higher in SSc than in controls (654 ± 108 vs. 602 ± 118 µm; p = 0.004). The other parameters measured at carotid (radial strain, Young’s modulus, compliance and distensibility) all indicated that arterial stiffness in tension was more pronounced in SSc. Of interest, the direct correlation between PWV and age corresponded closely in SSc. Moreover, a significant difference between SSc and controls as regards the carotid parameters was evident in younger subjects. (4) Conclusions: SSc patients showed an increased arterial stiffness compared to healthy controls. In particular, an SSc-related pathologic effect was suggested by the more pronounced increase in PWV with age and lower values of carotid elasticity in younger SSc patients than in age-matched controls.
(1) 背景：系统性硬化症（SSc）是一种自身免疫性疾病，其特征为内皮功能障碍以及皮肤和内脏器官纤维化。在过去十年中，该疾病的大血管受累情况受到了关注。特别是，动脉僵硬度增加的观察结果成为该疾病一个有趣的方面，可作为心血管风险的预测指标。(2) 方法：我们招募了60例SSc患者（年龄52±12岁，90%为女性）和150例年龄及性别匹配的健康对照者，以便使用B型超声心动图和SphygmoCor系统®眼压计评估右侧颈总动脉的内膜中层厚度和动脉僵硬度。(3) 结果：SSc患者的颈股脉搏波速度（PWV）高于对照组（8.6±1.7 vs. 7.8±1.5 m/s；p<0.001），颈桡PWV也是如此（7.8±1.1 vs. 6.7±1.4 m/s；p<0.001）。SSc患者的内膜中层厚度高于对照组（654±108 vs. 602±118 µm；p = 0.004）。在颈动脉处测量的其他参数（桡侧应变、杨氏模量、顺应性和扩张性）均表明，SSc患者的动脉拉伸僵硬度更为明显。有趣的是，SSc患者中PWV与年龄的直接相关性与对照组密切对应。此外，在较年轻的受试者中，SSc与对照组在颈动脉参数方面存在明显差异。(4) 结论：与健康对照组相比，SSc患者的动脉僵硬度增加。特别是，随着年龄增长，PWV的更显著增加以及较年轻SSc患者的颈动脉弹性值低于年龄匹配的对照组，提示存在与SSc相关的病理效应。
