Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by thickening and fibrosis of skin and internal organs that is associated with vascular damage. SSc may lead to arterial dysfunction and premature aging of the arteries. However, its relationship with parameters of arterial wall dysfunction has not been fully explored. To determine if carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic augmentation index (AIx) and endothelial function are altered in SSc patients, 17 consecutive patients with SSc and 34 age- and gender-matched controls were included in our study. PWV and AIx were assessed non-invasively by applanation tonometry. The endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) test in a brachial artery was performed by the ultrasound system. The blood investigations included serum lipid profile, glucose, and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) measurements. As compared to controls, SSc patients had significantly higher medians of the AIx (p = 0.002) and the PWV (p = 0.04) and the median of the FMD was significantly lower (p = 0.001). Stepwise linear regression including comorbid factors showed that SSc was a significant independent predictor of all arterial wall parameters measures. SSc patients have increased AIx and PWV and lower FMD as compared to control subjects. The relationship between SSc and measures of arterial wall parameters still remains unclear. Though replication of the results presented here is required, we conclude that SSc has a great impact on large and conduit arteries damage.

Carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic augmentation index (AIx) and endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) have been repeatedly showed to be related to premature atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases in different settings of population. The increased arterial stiffness and endothelium dysfunction may add to premature aging of the arteries in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Still data about arterial stiffness and endothelium function in inflammatory rheumatic diseases are not well described. The aim of this study was to determine the PWV, its derivate marker AIx and FMD and factors possibly influencing them in young SLE women without significant organ damage. Thirty women between 23 and 55 years with an established SLE diagnosis and 66 healthy women were consequently included in the study and both groups were comparable according to age, body mass index (BMI), serum lipid profile and creatinine. PWV was determined by measuring carotid-radial pulse wave transit time with the help of applanation tonometry and AIx, its derivate marker, was calculated as a difference between two waveform peaks expressed as a percentage of the pulse pressure. The FMD was performed by obtaining the repeated scans of the brachial artery at rest and during reactive hyperemia. In SLE women, PWV and AIx were significantly higher and FMD was not different from controls. In linear multiple stepwise regression analysis if patients and controls were both considered, PWV was weakly related to mean blood pressure (MBP), AIx was mostly predicted by age and MBP and FMD was predicted by the diameter of blood vessel, BMI, high density lipoproteins. If the sole SLE setting was analyzed, PWV was not related to any of the pending parameters, AIx turned out to be related to organ damage measured by Systemic Lupus International collaborative Clinics (SLICC) index and age, and FMD obtained strong and significant relation with vessel diameter, and BMI, and disease duration. Regardless of the small number of study group patients, we can state that controlling for MBP and taking measures towards organ damage prevention can partially slow down the process of early atherosclerosis in SLE patients.

Background and Objectives: This study estimates the prevalence and severity of erectile dysfunction and its association with cardiovascular risk factors in patients after a myocardial infarction. Materials and Methods: This study included men aged 35–80 years, diagnosed with myocardial infarction and examined in the Department of Preventive Cardiology of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos between 2016 and 2020. Anthropometric characteristics, blood pressure, lipid profile, blood glucose levels and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 was used to assess patients’ erectile function. Results: A total of 171 patients were analysed. The mean age was 57.6 ± 8.8 years. Of the patients, 42.1, 25.1 and 11.7% had three, four and five established cardiovascular risk factors, respectively. Of the patients, 100% were diagnosed with dyslipidaemia, 90.0%—arterial hypertension, 14.6%—diabetes, 23.3%—smoking, 43.7%—positive familial history and 54.5%—insufficient physical activity. The overall prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 62%. It was scored mild in 37.4%, mild-to-moderate—15.2%, moderate—5.3% and severe in 4.1% of the patients. The mean age was significantly different between severity groups (p < 0.001). The study demonstrated a negative correlation between age and total score of the questionnaire (r = −0.308, p < 0.001). Arterial hypertension was more frequent in the patients with erectile dysfunction (p = 0.02). Other cardiovascular risk factors were distributed similarly. Conclusions: Erectile dysfunction is common in patients after a myocardial infarction and its severity is age dependent. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is high, with arterial hypertension significantly more frequent in patients with erectile dysfunction.

BackgroundAtherogenic dyslipidemia (AD) is a blood serum lipid profile abnormality characterized by elevation of triglycerides and reduced levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). It is associated with residual cardiovascular risk. This study evaluated and compared the risk profiles of patients with hypertriglyceridemia, low-HDL-C levels or AD, in order to understand, which lipid profile is associated with greater risk.MethodsDuring the period of 2009–2016 a population of 92,373 Lithuanian adults (men 40–54 years old and women 50–64 years old) without overt cardiovascular disease were analyzed. Data of 25,746 patients (68.6% women and 31.4% men) with hypertriglyceridemia and/or low HDL-C low levels were collected and used for further statistical analysis.ResultsParticipants with AD tend to have more unfavorable risk profile than participants with hypertriglyceridemia or low-HDL-C. AD tends to cluster with other atherogenic risk factors, such as arterial hypertension [odds ratio (OR) 1.96, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.87–2.01], smoking [OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.14–1.27], diabetes mellitus [OR 2.74, 95% CI 2.58–2.90], obesity [OR 2.92, 95% CI 2.78–3.10], metabolic syndrome [OR 22.27, 95% CI 20.69–23.97], unbalanced diet [OR 1,59, 95% CI 1.51–1.68], low physical activity [OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.71–1,89], CHD history in first degree relatives [OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.12–1.25] and total number of risk factors [OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.38–1.57].ConclusionAD is associated with more unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile than hypertriglyceridemia or low-HDL cholesterol levels. Once identified AD should require additional medical attention since it is an important factor of residual cardiovascular risk.