Ulnar artery vasculopathy in systemic sclerosis.
Although digital ulceration frequently occurs in patients with systemic sclerosis, there have been few reports on macrovascular involvement. Macrovascular disease in systemic sclerosis has recently been described. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and brachial angiographic findings of 19 systemic sclerosis patients, who exhibited Raynaud's phenomenon and digital ulceration. We found that ulnar artery involvement is frequent in systemic sclerosis, although the precise mechanism is not known. There was no significant difference in risk factors of macrovascular disease between ulnar artery-involved patients and not-involved subjects. Thirteen patients underwent surgical intervention; five of the 13 patients had vascular graft performed due to ulnar artery involvement. We suggest that angiographic screening and early surgical intervention such as revascularization should be considered in patients with systemic sclerosis who manifest a severe form of Raynaud's phenomenon and/or digital ulceration and especially in patients with diffuse sclerosis.
Department of Rheumatology, The Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jeong Ha
JH
Park
Yoon-Kyoung
YK
Sung
Sang-Cheol
SC
Bae
Soon-Young
SY
Song
Heong Seok
HS
Seo
Jae-Bum
JB
Jun
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000150:complications*; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects