Department of Internal Medicine II, Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
BMC Pulm Med. 2024 Oct 11;24(1):509. doi: 10.1186/s12890-024-03322-0.
Asthma is linked to atherosclerosis, yet the underlying mediators remain elusive. Eosinophils may contribute to both asthmatic and atherosclerotic inflammation. Hence, this study aimed to explore the potential associations of eosinophils with artery changes among patients with asthma.
We assessed strain values of the common carotid arteries (CCAs) via vascular speckle tracking and compared asthma patients with low (< 300/µl) and high (≥ 300/µl) blood eosinophil counts (BEC).
We enrolled 100 patients, 42 with a BEC of < 300 and 58 with a BEC of ≥ 300 n/µl. Patients with high BEC exhibited more severe disease, characterized, e.g., by a higher frequency of acute exacerbations (1.3 ± 2.1 vs. 2.6 ± 2.4 n/year, p = 0.005). Both groups presented similar profiles in terms of conventional cardiovascular risk. The high BEC group demonstrated elevated arterial stiffness, reflected by reduced radial strain (mean radial strain of the right CCA: 2.7 ± 1.4% for BEC ≥ 300 n/µl vs. 3.5 ± 1.7% for BEC < 300 n/µl, p = 0.008; left CCA: 2.6 ± 1.4% vs. 4.1 ± 2.2%, p < 0.001). A weak yet statistically significant negative correlation was observed between BEC and radial strain for the right CCA (R2 = 0.131, b=-0.001, p = 0.001) and left CCA (R2 = 0.086, b=-0.001, p = 0.015). However, the prevalence of cerebrovascular disease was similar in both groups (31,0% vs. 50,0%, p = 0.057).
We identified a correlation between BEC and vascular stiffness, which supports the hypothesis that eosinophils may promote atherosclerosis.
Due to the exploratory and predominantly retrospective nature of the study, trial registration was not conducted. The only prospective procedure conducted was the angiological sonography to evaluate the current state. No ensuing health-related interventions were performed specifically for this study.
哮喘与动脉粥样硬化有关，但潜在的介质仍不清楚。嗜酸性粒细胞可能与哮喘和动脉粥样硬化炎症有关。因此，本研究旨在探讨哮喘患者血液嗜酸性粒细胞与动脉变化的潜在关系。
我们通过血管斑点追踪评估颈总动脉（CCA）的应变值，并比较嗜酸性粒细胞计数（BEC）低（<300/µl）和高（≥300/µl）的哮喘患者。
我们纳入了 100 名患者，其中 42 名患者的 BEC<300，58 名患者的 BEC≥300 n/µl。高 BEC 组患者的疾病更严重，例如急性加重的频率更高（1.3±2.1 次/年 vs. 2.6±2.4 次/年，p=0.005）。两组在常规心血管风险方面表现出相似的特征。高 BEC 组的动脉僵硬度升高，表现为径向应变降低（右侧 CCA 的平均径向应变：BEC≥300 n/µl 组为 2.7±1.4%，BEC<300 n/µl 组为 3.5±1.7%，p=0.008；左侧 CCA：2.6±1.4% vs. 4.1±2.2%，p<0.001）。右侧 CCA（R2=0.131，b=-0.001，p=0.001）和左侧 CCA（R2=0.086，b=-0.001，p=0.015）的 BEC 与径向应变之间存在弱但有统计学意义的负相关。然而，两组的脑血管疾病患病率相似（31.0% vs. 50.0%，p=0.057）。
我们发现 BEC 与血管僵硬之间存在相关性，这支持了嗜酸性粒细胞可能促进动脉粥样硬化的假说。
由于研究的探索性和主要回顾性性质，未进行试验注册。唯一进行的前瞻性程序是进行血管超声检查以评估当前状况。没有专门为此研究进行任何后续的健康相关干预。
