title: Vascular disease in scleroderma: mechanisms of vascular injury.
abstract: Vascular endothelial injury in systemic sclerosis (SSc) includes a spectrum of changes that involve predominantly the microcirculation and arterioles. The pathologic changes in the blood vessels adversely impact the physiology of many organ systems, with a reduction in the size of microvascular beds leading to decreased organ blood flow and ultimately to a state of chronic ischemia. Current hypotheses in SSc vascular disease suggest a possible chemical or infectious trigger.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, University of Toledo Medical Center, 3120 Glendale Avenue, Toledo, OH 43617, USA. bashar.kahaleh@utoledo.edu
authors.forename: Bashar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kahaleh
mesh_terms: D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000502:physiology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D045462:Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors; D006801:Humans; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D045462:Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors; C087589:anti-endothelial cell antibody