A Pilot Study: Hypertension, Endothelial Dysfunction and Retinal Microvasculature in Rheumatic Autoimmune Diseases
Background: The etiology of autoimmune rheumatic diseases is unknown. Endothelial dysfunction and premature atherosclerosis are commonly seen in these patients. Atherosclerosis is considered one of the main causes of cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension is considered the most important traditional...
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/18/4067 |
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| author | Ahmed Mahdy Martin Stradner Andreas Roessler Bianca Brix Angelika Lackner Adam Salon Nandu Goswami |
| author_facet | Ahmed Mahdy Martin Stradner Andreas Roessler Bianca Brix Angelika Lackner Adam Salon Nandu Goswami |
| author_sort | Ahmed Mahdy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The etiology of autoimmune rheumatic diseases is unknown. Endothelial dysfunction and premature atherosclerosis are commonly seen in these patients. Atherosclerosis is considered one of the main causes of cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension is considered the most important traditional cardiovascular risk. This case-control study aimed to investigate the relationship between autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular risk. Methods: This study was carried out in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, RA (<i>n</i> = 10), primary Sjögren syndrome, PSS (<i>n</i> = 10), and healthy controls (<i>n</i> = 10). Mean blood pressure (MBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse wave velocity (PWV, an indicator of arterial stiffness) were assessed via a Vicorder device. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) was measured via ELISA. Retinal photos were taken via a CR-2 retinal camera, and retinal microvasculature analysis was carried out. T-tests were conducted to compare the disease and control groups. ANOVA and ANOVA—ANCOVA were also used for the correction of covariates. Results: A high prevalence of hypertension was seen in RA (80% of cases) and PSS (40% of cases) compared to controls (only 20% of cases). Significant changes were seen in MBP (RA 101 ± 11 mmHg; PSS 93 ± 10 mm Hg vs. controls 88 ± 7 mmHg, <i>p</i> = 0.010), SBP (148 ± 16 mmHg in RA vs. 135 ± 16 mmHg in PSS vs. 128 ± 11 mmHg in control group; <i>p</i> = 0.007), DBP (77 ± 8 mmHg in RA, 72 ± 8 mmHg in PSS vs. 67 ± 6 mmHg in control; <i>p</i> = 0.010 in RA compared to the controls). Patients with PSS showed no significant difference as compared to controls (MBP: <i>p</i> = 0.240, SBP: <i>p</i> = 0.340, DBP: <i>p</i> = 0.190). Increased plasma ADMA was seen in RA (0.45 ± 0.069 ng/mL) and PSS (0.43 ± 0.060 ng/mL) patients as compared to controls (0.38 ± 0.059 ng/mL). ADMA in RA vs. control was statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.022). However, no differences were seen in ADMA in PSS vs. controls. PWV and retinal microvasculature did not differ across the three groups. Conclusions: The prevalence of hypertension in our cohort was very high. Similarly, signs of endothelial dysfunction were seen in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. As hypertension and endothelial dysfunction are important contributing risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, the association of hypertension and endothelial dysfunction should be monitored closely in autoimmune diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:33:34Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:33:34Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-2a0d3c9310aa456ea46e7c104a72db3f2023-11-22T13:38:58ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832021-09-011018406710.3390/jcm10184067A Pilot Study: Hypertension, Endothelial Dysfunction and Retinal Microvasculature in Rheumatic Autoimmune DiseasesAhmed Mahdy0Martin Stradner1Andreas Roessler2Bianca Brix3Angelika Lackner4Adam Salon5Nandu Goswami6Physiology Division, Otto Loewi Center of Research in Vascular Biology, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, AustriaRheumatology and Immunology Department, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, AustriaPhysiology Division, Otto Loewi Center of Research in Vascular Biology, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, AustriaPhysiology Division, Otto Loewi Center of Research in Vascular Biology, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, AustriaRheumatology and Immunology Department, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, AustriaPhysiology Division, Otto Loewi Center of Research in Vascular Biology, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, AustriaPhysiology Division, Otto Loewi Center of Research in Vascular Biology, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6, 8010 Graz, AustriaBackground: The etiology of autoimmune rheumatic diseases is unknown. Endothelial dysfunction and premature atherosclerosis are commonly seen in these patients. Atherosclerosis is considered one of the main causes of cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension is considered the most important traditional cardiovascular risk. This case-control study aimed to investigate the relationship between autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular risk. Methods: This study was carried out in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, RA (<i>n</i> = 10), primary Sjögren syndrome, PSS (<i>n</i> = 10), and healthy controls (<i>n</i> = 10). Mean blood pressure (MBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse wave velocity (PWV, an indicator of arterial stiffness) were assessed via a Vicorder device. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) was measured via ELISA. Retinal photos were taken via a CR-2 retinal camera, and retinal microvasculature analysis was carried out. T-tests were conducted to compare the disease and control groups. ANOVA and ANOVA—ANCOVA were also used for the correction of covariates. Results: A high prevalence of hypertension was seen in RA (80% of cases) and PSS (40% of cases) compared to controls (only 20% of cases). Significant changes were seen in MBP (RA 101 ± 11 mmHg; PSS 93 ± 10 mm Hg vs. controls 88 ± 7 mmHg, <i>p</i> = 0.010), SBP (148 ± 16 mmHg in RA vs. 135 ± 16 mmHg in PSS vs. 128 ± 11 mmHg in control group; <i>p</i> = 0.007), DBP (77 ± 8 mmHg in RA, 72 ± 8 mmHg in PSS vs. 67 ± 6 mmHg in control; <i>p</i> = 0.010 in RA compared to the controls). Patients with PSS showed no significant difference as compared to controls (MBP: <i>p</i> = 0.240, SBP: <i>p</i> = 0.340, DBP: <i>p</i> = 0.190). Increased plasma ADMA was seen in RA (0.45 ± 0.069 ng/mL) and PSS (0.43 ± 0.060 ng/mL) patients as compared to controls (0.38 ± 0.059 ng/mL). ADMA in RA vs. control was statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.022). However, no differences were seen in ADMA in PSS vs. controls. PWV and retinal microvasculature did not differ across the three groups. Conclusions: The prevalence of hypertension in our cohort was very high. Similarly, signs of endothelial dysfunction were seen in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. As hypertension and endothelial dysfunction are important contributing risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, the association of hypertension and endothelial dysfunction should be monitored closely in autoimmune diseases.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/18/4067endothelial dysfunctionhypertensionADMAconnective tissue autoimmune diseasesearly signpulse wave velocity |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Mahdy Martin Stradner Andreas Roessler Bianca Brix Angelika Lackner Adam Salon Nandu Goswami A Pilot Study: Hypertension, Endothelial Dysfunction and Retinal Microvasculature in Rheumatic Autoimmune Diseases Journal of Clinical Medicine endothelial dysfunction hypertension ADMA connective tissue autoimmune diseases early sign pulse wave velocity |
| title | A Pilot Study: Hypertension, Endothelial Dysfunction and Retinal Microvasculature in Rheumatic Autoimmune Diseases |
| title_full | A Pilot Study: Hypertension, Endothelial Dysfunction and Retinal Microvasculature in Rheumatic Autoimmune Diseases |
| title_fullStr | A Pilot Study: Hypertension, Endothelial Dysfunction and Retinal Microvasculature in Rheumatic Autoimmune Diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Pilot Study: Hypertension, Endothelial Dysfunction and Retinal Microvasculature in Rheumatic Autoimmune Diseases |
| title_short | A Pilot Study: Hypertension, Endothelial Dysfunction and Retinal Microvasculature in Rheumatic Autoimmune Diseases |
| title_sort | pilot study hypertension endothelial dysfunction and retinal microvasculature in rheumatic autoimmune diseases |
| topic | endothelial dysfunction hypertension ADMA connective tissue autoimmune diseases early sign pulse wave velocity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/18/4067 |
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