[Endothelial dysfunction and early atherosclerosis in non-differentiated collagenosis].
BACKGROUND
The most common systemic autoimmune diseases, as the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The authors' aim was to determine the endothelial dysfunction and the accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD), in a preliminary phase of defined connective tissue diseases.


METHODS
Twenty-two UCTD patients and twenty age and sex-matched controls were included. Using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound, the authors' measured the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA), and the diameter of brachial artery at rest, during reactive hyperemia, and after sublingual glyceryl trinitrate administration. The clinical, the demographical status and the serological profile of UCTD patients were also assessed.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the groups considered to the traditional risk factors. The endothelium dependent vasodilatation was significantly impaired in UCTD patients as compared to the controls (5.3 +/- 3.03% vs. 8.85 +/- 4.02%, P < 0.002). The authors' have not found significant difference between the two groups either at the endothelium independent vasodilatation or at the CCA-IMT. CCA-IMT correlated significantly with the age (R = 0.819, p < 0.001) and with the anti-DNA antibody levels (R = 0.563, P < 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
The endothelium-dependent vasodilatation of patients with UCTD is reduced before development of a defined connective tissue disease and the potential anti-atherogenic treatment. The endothelium dependent vasodilatation is a more sensitive method to determine an early atherosclerotic process. The authors' found moderate correlation between the CCA-IMT and the anti-DNA antibody levels.
Kerekes
György
G
Orvos-és Egészségtudományi Centrum, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, III. Belgyógyászati Klinika, Intenzív Osztály. gkerekes@iiibel.dote.hu
Bodolay
Edit
E
Sipka
Sándor
S
Szomják
Edit
E
Veres
Katalin
K
Zeher
Margit
M
Szegedi
Gyula
G
Soltész
Pál
P
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation
D008055:Lipids