THU0320 New Parameters for Identifying Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients with Primary SjöGren’s Syndrome: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background Clinical and biochemical data suggest that autoimmune diseases are associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased atherosclerosis. We have previously shown that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels and coronary flow reserve (CFR) are impaired in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (1), but it is not known whether the same is true for patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS). Objectives To investigate sub-clinical cardiovascular involvement in pSS patients by means of ADMA, coronary flow reserve (CFR), intima media thickness (cIMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV) and myocardial deformation. Methods The study involved 22 outpatients with pSS (6 males, 16 females; mean age 60.14±7.81 years) and no documentable cardiovascular disease, and 22 age- and gender-matched controls. Dipyridamole transthoracic stress echocardiography was used to evaluate wall motion and CFR in the distal segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery before and after dipyridamole infusion (0.84 mg/kg over six minutes). A CFR value of <2.5 was considered a sign of impaired coronary function. We also evaluated cIMT arterial stiffness PWV and plasma ADMA levels, and made a speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) analysis. Results All of the patients were affected by pSS and most were being treated with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) at a dose of 400 mg/day. They were also ANA or RF and anti-SSB or anti-SSA positive. There were no significant differences in ejection fraction (EF) or E/A ratios between the patients and controls. Although within the normal range, the patients’ CFR was lower than that of the controls (median 2.70; IQR 2.40-2.90 vs 3.20; IQR 3.06-3.33; p <0.0001), whereas their ADMA levels were significantly higher (median 0.81 mM; IQR 0.79-0.85 mM vs 0.54 mM; IQR 0.52-0.58 mM; p< 0.0001). Both left and right PWV values were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls (median 8.8 m/s right and 8.9 m/s left vs 6.86 and 6.89 m/s, p<0.0001), whereas cIMT was substantially similar in the two groups (0.60 mm, IQR 060-0.70 mm vs 0.60 mm, IQR 0.50-0.70, p=NS). Speckle tracking analysis was significantly different between the two groups, with longitudinal strain deformation in the apical four chambers view (Long. ɛ 4c) (median 15.28%, IQR 12.30-16.20% vs 19.80%, IQR 19.30-20.40%, p<0.0001) and radial strain deformation in short axis view (Radial ɛ SAX) (median 26.00%, IQR 24.26-31.90% vs 31.50%, IQR 28.30-34.50%, p=0.02) being significantly less in the pSS patients. Conclusions Higher ADMA levels suggest the presence of endothelial dysfunction and sub-clinical atherosclerosis in pSS patients, even in the case of a normal CFR. This finding is supported by the PWV values, which were higher in the pSS patients. These preliminary data indicate that ADMA levels and PWV values may be useful markers for identifying early endothelial dysfunction in pSS patients. References Turiel M, Atzeni F, Tomasoni L, et al Non-invasive assessment of coronary flow reserve and ADMA levels: a case-control s...

Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Increased Arterial Stiffness in Patients With Primary Sjögren's Syndrome

“…There is only one study in particular that to our knowledge has investigated PWV in primary SS. Atzeni et al found significantly higher arterial stiffness in 22 primary SS patients as compared to an age-and sex-matched control group (n ϭ 22) (11). Although the results are similar to ours, our patients (only women) were significantly younger (mean Ϯ SD age 60 Ϯ 8 years versus 50 Ϯ 9 years), since patients ages Ͼ65 years were purposely excluded to minimize the strong effect of age on PWV and to avoid as much as possible age masking the effect of the disease itself.…”

“…In line with our findings, the majority of the studies have observed an excess of atherosclerosis, despite using different methods. Therefore, endothelial dysfunction (11)(12)(13)(14), increased arterial stiffness (11), increased carotid intima-media thickening (CIMT) (9), and abnormal ankle brachial index (15) have been more or less consistently described in these patients. There is only one study in particular that to our knowledge has investigated PWV in primary SS.…”

“…Although the results are similar to ours, our patients (only women) were significantly younger (mean Ϯ SD age 60 Ϯ 8 years versus 50 Ϯ 9 years), since patients ages Ͼ65 years were purposely excluded to minimize the strong effect of age on PWV and to avoid as much as possible age masking the effect of the disease itself. In addition, factors associated with increased PWV were not investigated (11).…”

“…Measuring surrogate markers of atherosclerosis could be of great interest because it could help to identify primary SS patients with elevated CV risk. In fact, to our knowledge, arterial stiffness measured by means of pulse wave velocity (PWV) has only been studied in one small cohort of primary SS patients (11). In this regard, PWV determined by Complior has been found to have an excellent positive predictive value and moderate negative predictive value to estimate the risk of CV events in individuals at moderate risk of atherosclerosis (16).…”

The clinical spectrum of primary Sjögren’s syndrome: beyond exocrine glands

“…In pSS ADMA, right and left PWV and left cIMT resulted higher, whereas CFR resulted lower in comparison with normal subjects. In addition, despite left ventricular systolic and diastolic function being similar in pSS and controls, echocardiographic findings support the presence of myocardial alteration in the former (47)(48)(49)(50). Interestingly, not only the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) but also the SS damage index (SSDI) were independently associated with PWV (48).…”