A Critical View on Cardiovascular Risk in Systemic Sclerosis

Overview

Journal Rheumatol Int

Specialty Rheumatology

Date 2016 Jul 14

PMID 27405985

Citations 25

Authors

Antonios Psarras

Stergios Soulaidopoulos

Alexandros Garyfallos

George Kitas

Theodoros Dimitroulas

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by microvascular injury and diffuse fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. While macrovascular disease and higher risk for cardiovascular events are well documented in other systemic rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, the presence and extent of atherosclerosis among patients with SSc is yet to be established. Primary cardiac involvement, due to impairment of coronary microvascular circulation and myocardial fibrosis, considerably affects prognosis and life expectancy of individuals with SSc, representing one of the leading causes of death in this population. On the other hand the existence and prevalence of atherosclerotic coronary disease remains an issue of debate as studies comparing structural and morphological markers of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events between SSc patients and the general population have yielded controversial results. The aim of this review is to summarize recent literature about the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in SSc, review the surrogate markers of CVD that have been evaluated and examine whether common pathogenic mechanisms exist between SSc and macrovascular disease.

Citing Articles

Aberrant lipid profiles and lymphocyte counts in systemic sclerosis population, reassessing predictive value for concurrent cardiovascular diseases.

Guo R, Gao J, Yang Y, Xu K Front Immunol. 2025; 16:1530909.

PMID: 40046046 PMC: 11880226. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1530909.

Systemic sclerosis and acute heart failure in prosthetic heart valve patients: A retrospective analysis.

Khattar G, Wei C, Davis A, Saliba F, Aoun L, Mourad O J Scleroderma Relat Disord. 2024; :23971983241278853.

PMID: 39544905 PMC: 11559524. DOI: 10.1177/23971983241278853.

Circulating cell adhesion molecules in systemic sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mangoni A, Zinellu A Front Immunol. 2024; 15:1438302.

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Relationships between systemic sclerosis and atherosclerosis: screening for mitochondria-related biomarkers.

Wang F, Lyu X, Qin Y, Xie M Front Genet. 2024; 15:1375331.

PMID: 39050259 PMC: 11266065. DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1375331.

Cardiovascular risk and inflammation in a population with autoimmune diseases: a narrative review.

Bertoni C, Mazzocchi A, Leone L, Agostoni C, Filocamo G Front Immunol. 2024; 15:1380372.

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