Dynamics of pulse wave velocity and vascular augmentation index in association with endothelial progenitor cells in SLE.
Patients with SLE display a significantly higher cardiovascular risk (CVR). Pulse wave velocity (PWV) has meanwhile been established as a reliable parameter of end-organ damage. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are critically involved in vascular repair under both physiological and pathological conditions. The aim of the study was to analyse PWV and the Vascular Augmentation Index (VAI) and EPC numbers/regeneration in a well-defined German SLE cohort. Thirty patients were included. Only two individuals displayed a PWV of above 10 m/s. There was no correlation between PWV percentiles and disease activity as reflected by the SLE Disease Activity Index. Neither EPC colonies nor percentages of circulating EPCs (CD133+/KDR+) correlated with PWV/VAI in a positive or negative manner. Thus, it can be questioned whether pulse wave analysis and/or EPC proliferation and circulating cell numbers are truly useful for CVR assessment in SLE.
Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology , University Medicine Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany.
Peter
P
Korsten
Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology , University Medicine Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany.
Daniel
D
Patschan
Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology , University Medicine Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany.
Elvira
E
Henze
Department of Rheumatology , Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota , USA.
Timothy B
TB
Niewold
Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology , University Medicine Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany.
Gerhard Anton
GA
Müller
Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology , University Medicine Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany.
Susann
S
Patschan
cardiovascular risk; endothelial progenitor cells; pulse wave velocity