Digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: role of flow-mediated dilatation and capillaroscopy as risk assessment tools

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Silva, I (Author) Other; Loureiro, T (Author) Other; teixeira, a (Author) FCUP; Almeida, I (Author) Other; Mansilha A. (Author) FMUP; Vasconcelos, C (Author) Other; Almeida, R (Author) Other

Journal

Title: European Journal of Dermatology

Vol. 25

Pages: 444-451

ISSN: 1167-1122

Publisher: Libbey

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 7 Citations

Scopus - 8 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-0EY

DOI: 10.1684/ejd.2015.2605

Abstract (EN): Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate macrovascular endothelial dysfunction and microvascular damage as clinical markers of peripheral microangiopathy in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). Patients and methods: Seventy-seven secondary RP with systemic sclerosis, 32 primary RP and 34 healthy controls were included in our study. Secondary RP patients were divided into two subgroups: 39 with digital ulcers (DU) and 38 without digital ulcers (non-DU). Results: Patients with DU had significantly lower flow-mediated dilatation values (5.34 +/- 7.49%) compared to non-DU patients (16.21 +/- 11.31%), primary RP (17.96 +/- 12.78%) and controls (20.17 +/- 8.86%), p<0.001, favouring macrovascular endothelium dysfunction. Regarding microvascular damage, the DU group had a predominately capillaroscopic late pattern (71.1%) whereas non-DU patients had an active pattern (56.4%). The microangiopathy evolution score was significantly higher in the DU group compared to the non-DU group (4.79 +/- 1.82 vs. 1.79 +/- 1.56, p<0.001). Flow-mediated dilation was significantly lower in late pattern (6.13 +/- 7.09%) compared to active (12.58 +/- 10.66%) and early patterns (17.72 +/- 14.90%), p = 0.016 and p = 0.044 respectively. Conclusions: Low flow-mediated dilatation and microvascular damage in capillaroscopy are early clinical markers of DU risk in RP patients.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8