Aicha Ben Tekaya1,2, Takwa Mehmli3,4, Imtinene Ben Mrad2,5, Ahmed Fendri2,6, Seif Boukriba2,6, Selma Bouden1,2, Leila Rouached1,2, Rawdha Tekaya1,2, Olfa Saidane1,2, Ines Mahmoud1,2, Leila Abdelmoula1,2. 1. Rheumatology Department, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, 1007, Tunisia. 2. Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia. 3. Rheumatology Department, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, 1007, Tunisia. mehmlitakwa@gmail.com. 4. Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia. mehmlitakwa@gmail.com. 5. Cardiology Department, Habib Thameur Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia. 6. Radiology Department, La Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: We aimed to investigate the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients compared to healthy controls. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study including SpA patients aged ≤ 50 years without traditional cardiovascular risk factors and healthy controls matched for age and gender. Baseline characteristics, laboratory data, and SpA-related parameters were recorded. All participants underwent ultrasound examination with measurement of EAT thickness, FMD, and cIMT by both an experienced cardiologist and radiologist blinded to clinical data. The relationships between the ultrasound measurements were analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient and Person correlation. RESULTS: The study included 94 subjects (47 SpA and 47 healthy controls). The sex-ratio was 2.35; the median age of patients was 36 years (IQR: 28-46), and the median disease duration was 11 years (IQR: 5-16). Compared to the control group, SpA patients had significantly higher values of EAT thickness (p = 0.001) and cIMT (p < 0.0001). FMD values were significantly lower in SpA patients compared to controls (p = 0.008). The univariate analysis detected a significant negative association between EAT thickness and FMD (p = 0.026; r = - 0.325), and between left cIMT and FMD (p = 0.027; r = - 0.322). No association was found between EAT thickness and cIMT. CONCLUSION: EAT thickness, FMD, and cIMT were significantly impaired in SpA patients compared with healthy controls supporting evidence of accelerated atherosclerosis in SpA. EAT thickness was correlated to endothelial dysfunction suggesting the role of EAT in predicting the early reversible stages of atherosclerosis. Key Points • Spondyloarthritis is associated with impaired subclinical atherosclerosis markers accurately increased epicardial fat and carotid intima-media thickness and endothelial dysfunction. • Increased epicardial fat thickness is correlated with impaired endothelial function in spondyloarthritis patients.
INTRODUCTION: We aimed to investigate the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients compared to healthy controls. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study including SpA patients aged ≤ 50 years without traditional cardiovascular risk factors and healthy controls matched for age and gender. Baseline characteristics, laboratory data, and SpA-related parameters were recorded. All participants underwent ultrasound examination with measurement of EAT thickness, FMD, and cIMT by both an experienced cardiologist and radiologist blinded to clinical data. The relationships between the ultrasound measurements were analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient and Person correlation. RESULTS: The study included 94 subjects (47 SpA and 47 healthy controls). The sex-ratio was 2.35; the median age of patients was 36 years (IQR: 28-46), and the median disease duration was 11 years (IQR: 5-16). Compared to the control group, SpA patients had significantly higher values of EAT thickness (p = 0.001) and cIMT (p < 0.0001). FMD values were significantly lower in SpA patients compared to controls (p = 0.008). The univariate analysis detected a significant negative association between EAT thickness and FMD (p = 0.026; r = - 0.325), and between left cIMT and FMD (p = 0.027; r = - 0.322). No association was found between EAT thickness and cIMT. CONCLUSION: EAT thickness, FMD, and cIMT were significantly impaired in SpA patients compared with healthy controls supporting evidence of accelerated atherosclerosis in SpA. EAT thickness was correlated to endothelial dysfunction suggesting the role of EAT in predicting the early reversible stages of atherosclerosis. Key Points • Spondyloarthritis is associated with impaired subclinical atherosclerosis markers accurately increased epicardial fat and carotid intima-media thickness and endothelial dysfunction. • Increased epicardial fat thickness is correlated with impaired endothelial function in spondyloarthritis patients.
Authors: Dick H J Thijssen; Rosa Maria Bruno; Anke C C M van Mil; Sophie M Holder; Francesco Faita; Arno Greyling; Peter L Zock; Stefano Taddei; John E Deanfield; Thomas Luscher; Daniel J Green; Lorenzo Ghiadoni Journal: Eur Heart J Date: 2019-08-07 Impact factor: 29.983
Authors: György Kerekes; Pál Soltész; Michael T Nurmohamed; Miguel A Gonzalez-Gay; Maurizio Turiel; Edit Végh; Yehuda Shoenfeld; Iain McInnes; Zoltán Szekanecz Journal: Nat Rev Rheumatol Date: 2012-02-21 Impact factor: 20.543
Authors: Mike J Peters; Irene E van der Horst-Bruinsma; Ben A Dijkmans; Michael T Nurmohamed Journal: Semin Arthritis Rheum Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 5.532