Rheumatology

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Cerebral vasculopathy is associated with severe vascular manifestations in systemic sclerosis
Journal of Rheumatology, 07/02/09

Terrier B et al. – Findings suggest that severe cerebral vasculopathy is associated with severe vascular manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. These patients should undergo neuroradiological imaging assessment of brain involvement.

• An investigation of the brain involvement in pts with SSc
• 63 pts; 30 (47.6%) with limited cutaneous and 27 (42.9%) with diffuse cutaneous SSc
• 41 pts underwent CT scan and MRI of brain, 11 pts only CT scan, and 11 pts only MRI
• Cerebral vasculopathy on MRI and CT scan was defined as: absent or mild, moderate, or severe on a 4-point scale (0-3)

• Cerebral vasculopathy was identified on CT scan in 22 pts and on MRI in 38 pts
• Pts with severe cerebral vasculopathy seen on MRI were more likely to have pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and showed a tendency to have scleroderma renal crisis
• A similar association was found between severe cerebral vasculopathy seen on CT scan and PAH or SRC
• After adjusting for age and hypertension, severe cerebral vasculopathy was still associated with increased risk of severe vascular manifestations

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