title: Early identification of vascular damage in patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Vascular involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. We assessed arterial stiffness using a new echo-tracking technique in patients with SSc asymptomatic for cardiovascular diseases. We enrolled 22 patients (21 female, 63 ± 14 years) and 20 controls (12 female, 62 ± 3 years). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was comparable between the 2 groups (1.1 ± 0.3 vs 1.0 ± 0.4 mm, P = ns), whereas the stiffness parameters were significantly increased in patients (β: 9.5 ± 4.2 vs 5.8 ± 1.1, P = .001; pulse wave velocity [PWV]: 6.5 ± 1.5 vs 5.2 ± 0.6 m/sec, P = .003). A correlation between stiffness parameters, anti-Scl-70 antibodies (β: r = .46, P = .03; PWV: r = .50, P = .02), and anticentromere antibodies (β: r = -.54, P = .020; PWV: r = -.53, P = .023) was found. Echo-tracking technique may be valuable in early identification of vascular involvement in patients with SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Cardiology, University of Messina, Italy. maurizio.cusma@tiscali.it.
authors.forename: Maurizio Cusmà
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Piccione
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bagnato
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Bella
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caliri
authors.forename: Mariarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longordo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oreto
authors.forename: Gianfilippo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bagnato
authors.forename: Scipione
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carerj
mesh_terms: D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014655:Vascular Resistance