Atherosclerotic Vessel Changes in Sarcoidosis

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vessel disease. The aim of our present study was to investigate whether sarcoidosis could be associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic vessel changes. Angiological analysis and blood tests were performed in 71 sarcoidosis patients and 12 matched controls in this prospective cross-sectional study. Specifically, angiological measurements comprised ankle brachial index (ABI), central pulse wave velocity (cPWV), pulse wave index (PWI), and duplex sonography of central and peripheral arteries. Sarcoidosis activity markers (angiotensin converting enzyme, soluble interleukin-2 receptor) and cardiovascular risk parameters such as cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, fibrinogen, d-dimer, and blood count were analyzed in blood. We found no relevant differences in ABI, cPWV, and plaque burden between the sarcoidosis and control groups (1.10 ± 0.02 vs. 1.10 ± 0.02, 6.7 ± 0.5 vs. 6.1 ± 1.2, 53.7 % vs. 54.5 %, respectively). However, PWI was significantly higher in sarcoidosis patients (146.2 ± 6.8) compared with controls (104.9 ± 8.8), irrespectively of the activity of sarcoidosis and immunosuppressive medication. Except for increased lipoprotein(a) and d-dimer in sarcoidosis, the remaining cardiovascular markers were similar in both groups. We conclude that sarcoidosis is associated with increased pulse wave index, which may indicate an early stage of atherosclerosis.

Systemic Sarcoidosis Presenting with Renal Involvement Caused by Various Sarcoidosis-associated Pathophysiological Conditions

“…The present patient had no history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia, whereas his long-term heavy smoking habit and sarcoidosis, itself, might have been responsible for atherogenesis. Tuleta et al reported that sarcoidosis is associated with an increased pulse wave index, which may indicate an early stage of atherosclerosis (20). In rheumatology, inflammation mediated by activated T cells and cytokines is known to be a predisposing factor for atherosclerosis (21).…”

Endocan Levels and Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients With Sarcoidosis

“…Endothelial dysfunction has been reported in patients with sarcoidosis using noninvasive imaging techniques and certain biologic markers including malondialdehyde levels. 3,6,10,11…”

Increased Risk of Atherosclerosis in Patients with Sarcoidosis

“…Considering the lipid modifications observed in endothelium of sarcoid lungs, the risk of atherosclerosis has recently been evaluated in these patients by angiogenic analysis and peripheral cardiovascular biomarker assay [8] . An altered ankle brachial index with respect to controls was reported irrespective of systemic treatment.…”