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Triantafyllias K, Thiele LE, Mandel A, Cavagna L, Baraliakos X, Bertsias G, Hasseli R, Minnich P, Schwarting A. Arterial Stiffness as a Surrogate Marker of Cardiovascular Disease and Atherosclerosis in Patients with Vasculitides: A Literature Review. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3603. [PMID: 38132187 PMCID: PMC10743173 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13243603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Vasculitis, a group of systemic inflammatory diseases that affect the cardiovascular (CV) system, presents with a variety of clinical manifestations that depend on the size of the affected blood vessels. While some types of vasculitis reveal distinct symptoms, others are characterized by more diffuse and nonspecific presentations that can result in delayed diagnosis and treatment initiation. Interestingly, patients with vasculitides share a significant comorbidity: an elevated CV risk, contributing to increased rates of CV events and mortality. This heightened risk is caused by cumulative inflammatory burden, traditional CV risk factors, medication effects, and reduced physical fitness. Traditional risk assessment tools, commonly used in the general population, frequently underestimate the CV risk in patients with inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Consequently, novel approaches are necessary to stratify the precise CV risk in vasculitis patients. A number of surrogate parameters for CV risk have been investigated, with arterial stiffness emerging as a promising marker. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a well-established method for assessing arterial stiffness and predicting CV risk across different populations. Among numerous PWV variants, carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) stands out as the most extensively studied and accepted reference standard. It has demonstrated its utility as a surrogate CV parameter both in the general population and in patients with systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases. In recent years, research has expanded to assess arterial stiffness in systemic rheumatic diseases, such as arthritis, connective tissue diseases, rheumatologic overlap syndromes, and chronic pain disorders, using measurements of PWV and other markers of arterial compliance and elasticity. Despite burgeoning research in rheumatologic diseases, data on CV risk markers in vasculitides remain limited and fragmented. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of arterial stiffness as a potential screening marker for CV diseases, atheromatosis, and ultimately CV risk among patients with vasculitides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Triantafyllias
- Rheumatology Center Rhineland-Palatinate, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Str. 9-11, 55543 Bad Kreuznach, Germany (P.M.)
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Leif-Erik Thiele
- Rheumatology Center Rhineland-Palatinate, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Str. 9-11, 55543 Bad Kreuznach, Germany (P.M.)
| | - Anna Mandel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Helios Clinic, 47805 Krefeld, Germany
| | - Lorenzo Cavagna
- Department of Rheumatology, University and IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Xenofon Baraliakos
- Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet Herne, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44649 Herne, Germany
| | - George Bertsias
- Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71500 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Rebecca Hasseli
- Department of Internal Medicine D, Section of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Munster, 48149 Munster, Germany
| | - Pascal Minnich
- Rheumatology Center Rhineland-Palatinate, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Str. 9-11, 55543 Bad Kreuznach, Germany (P.M.)
| | - Andreas Schwarting
- Rheumatology Center Rhineland-Palatinate, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Str. 9-11, 55543 Bad Kreuznach, Germany (P.M.)
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
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Clifford AH. Cardiovascular Disease in Large Vessel Vasculitis: Risks, Controversies, and Management Strategies. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2023; 49:81-96. [PMID: 36424028 DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) are the 2 most common primary large vessel vasculitides (LVV). They share common vascular targets, clinical presentations, and histopathology, but target a strikingly different patient demographic. While GCA predominantly affects elderly people of northern European ancestry, TAK preferentially targets young women of Asian heritage. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, aortic disease, and thromboses, are significantly increased in LVV. In this review, we will compare and contrast the issue of CVD in patients with TAK and GCA, with respect to prevalence, risk factors, and mechanisms of events to gain an understanding of the relative contributions of active vasculitis, vascular damage, and accelerated atherosclerosis. Controversies and possible mitigation strategies will be discussed.
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Lo Gullo A, Giuffrida C, Morace C, Squadrito G, Magnano San Lio P, Ricciardi L, Salvarani C, Mandraffino G. Arterial Stiffness and Adult Onset Vasculitis: A Systematic Review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:824630. [PMID: 35646970 PMCID: PMC9133451 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.824630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammation represents the cornerstone of the raised cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD), including vasculitis. Standardized mortality ratios in these patients are higher as compared to the general population, and the excess of premature mortality is due to early atherosclerotic events. Thus, IRD patients need appropriate CV risk assessment and management according to this CV disease (CVD) burden. Adequate control of CV risk is still lacking in usual care, but early diagnosis of silent and subclinical CVD is crucial to improve the long-term prognosis of these patients. Increased arterial stiffness may provide a pathophysiological link between inflammation and increased cardiovascular risk. Several noninvasive methods are now available to estimate artery stiffness in the clinical setting, including pulse wave velocity assessment. The independent predictive value of arterial stiffness for cardiovascular events has been demonstrated in general as well as in selected populations, and reference values adjusted for age and blood pressure have been suggested. Thus, arterial stiffness is an interesting biomarker for cardiovascular risk stratification. This systematic review summarizes the additional value that PWV measurement can provide in the setting of vasculitis, with a focus in the different clinical stages and CV risk prevention. This systematic review is registered with registration number: Prospero CRD42021259603.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Lo Gullo
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, ARNAS Garibaldi, Catania, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alberto Lo Gullo
| | - Clemente Giuffrida
- Emergency Unit, Department of Emergency Urgency Unit, IRCCS Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo - Piemonte, Messina, Italy
| | - Carmela Morace
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giovanni Squadrito
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Paola Magnano San Lio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Luisa Ricciardi
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Carlo Salvarani
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy AUSL-IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mandraffino
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Watanabe J, Iwazu Y, Kotani K. Pulse wave velocity, carotid intima media thickness and flow-mediated dilation in Takayasu arteritis: a systematic review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 6:e79-84. [PMID: 34027216 DOI: 10.5114/amsad.2021.105390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic vasculitis associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. The measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) are generally used for evaluating the cardiovascular risk. The application of these measurements to TA patients remains undetermined. Material and methods Clinical studies that reported the PWV, CIMT and FMD levels in TA patients, which were published prior to 2021, were summarized using PubMed. Results Fifteen studies were eligible. Overall, in TA patients, the PWV and CIMT levels were significantly higher and the FMD levels were significantly lower compared to controls. Part of the studies showed that the disease activity of TA was significantly associated with the PWV, CIMT or FMD levels. Conclusions The PWV, CIMT and FMD measurements could be useful for evaluating the cardiovascular risk in TA patients. Further studies to determine the proper use of these measurements are warranted.
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Clifford AH, Cohen Tervaert JW. Cardiovascular events and the role of accelerated atherosclerosis in systemic vasculitis. Atherosclerosis 2021; 325:8-15. [PMID: 33873090 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The spectrum of inflammatory blood vessel diseases includes both atherosclerosis and the primary systemic vasculitides. Although the inciting triggers differ, significant overlap exists in the mechanisms that contribute to sustained inflammation and vascular damage in both entities. With improvement in therapeutics to control acute vasculitis leading to longer survival, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has emerged as the leading cause of death for vasculitis patients. Cardiovascular events likely occur as a consequence of vasculitis, vascular damage from prior inflammation causing a sustained procoagulant state, and accelerated atherosclerosis. In this review, we discuss the latest evidence regarding risk of cardiovascular events in patients with major forms of primary systemic vasculitis, and review the mechanisms by which accelerated atherosclerosis may occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison H Clifford
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Jan Willem Cohen Tervaert
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada.
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