Raynaud's phenomenon and plasma endothelin: Correlations with capillaroscopic patterns in systemic sclerosis
Sulli A et al. – Study demonstrates that the highest endothelin (ET-1) plasma levels were detected in the more advanced stage of the systemic sclerosis (SSc) microangiopathy, namely the late nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) pattern, characterized by capillary loss and increased tissue fibrosis; this might support the involvement of ET-1 in the progression of the microvascular/fibrotic SSc damage. Methods- An evaluation of ET-1 plasma levels and some clinical measures in pts with:
- Primary Raynaud’s phenomenon (PRP) and in
- Patients with SSc and secondary RP (SRP)
in the latter according to their different NVC patterns of microangiopathy (early, active, and late)
- 99 pts with SSc, 49 with PRP, and 45 control subjects were studied
- NVC was performed in all pts to distinguish the pattern of microvascular damage
- Morphological alterations were scored by a semiquantitative rating scale
- ET-1 plasma levels were evaluated in all individuals by ELISA
Results- ET-1 plasma levels were higher in pts with both PRP and SRP, vs controls
- A positive correlation was found between ET-1 plasma levels and SRP duration, but not between ET-1 plasma levels and PRP duration
- Correlations were observed in pts with SSc between ET-1 plasma levels and clinical measures as well as the score value of single NVC measures
- Highest ET-1 plasma levels were found in pts with SSc showing the late pattern of microangiopathy vs early pattern and to controls
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