Objectives: Arterial stiffness and its hemodynamic consequences are associated with adverse cardiovascular events. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) are noninvasive markers of arterial stiffness. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic, autoimmune disease affecting mainly the small vessels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the arterial stiffness parameters and hemodynamics by oscillometric method in patients with SSc.
Methods: Thirty-five consecutive patients with diagnosed SSc and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Measurements of arterial stiffness were carried out by using a Mobil-O-Graph arteriograph system that detected signals from the brachial artery.
Results: While hemodynamic parameters were not statistically significant between SSc and control groups, heart rate was significantly higher in SSc group (84 ± 12 and 72 ± 7 bpm, p = 0.001). SSc patients had significantly higher AIx and PWV values compared with controls (27.9 ± 12.4 versus 21.0 ± 11.4 %, p = 0.019 and 6.56 ± 1.5 versus 5.04 ± 0.17 m/s, p < 0.001, respectively). PWV was significantly associated with SSc when adjusted by heart rate (p = 0.001, Odds ratio (OR): 17.304, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 3.225-92.832).
Conclusions: PWV and AIx were significantly higher in patients with SSc. Measurement of arterial stiffness parameters using oscillometric method was reliable, reproducible and easy in patients with SSc.