Asymmetric dimethylarginine correlates with worsening peripheral microangiopathy in systemic sclerosis.
Pagkopoulou E Soulaidopoulos S Triantafyllidou E Loutradis C Malliari A Kitas GD Garyfallos A Dimitroulas T
Pagkopoulou E
Soulaidopoulos S
Triantafyllidou E
Loutradis C
Malliari A
Kitas GD
Garyfallos A
Dimitroulas T
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Affiliation
Hippokration Hospital; Evangelismos Private Hospital and Hemodialysis Unit Gennimatas Hospital; International Hellenic University; The Dudley Group of Hospitals, NS Foundation Trust; Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
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Publication date
01/01/2023
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Abstract
Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized primarily by micro-angiopathy and endothelial dysfunction which stimulate a fibrotic process. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous nitric oxide (NO) inhibitor and represents a novel biomarker for vascular dysfunction. Nailfold video capillaroscopy (NVC) represents a non-invasive and reliable technique for the evaluation of microvasculopathy in SSc. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the possible association between ADMA and microvascular involvement in patients with SSc. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including consecutive SSc patients attending the Scleroderma Outpatient Clinic. ADMA was measured in serum samples using a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Participants underwent NVC with qualitative and semi-quantitative assessment and all NVC parameters were measured in the distal row of each finger. The findings were classified in one of the three qualitative NVC patterns: early, active, and late. Results: Eighty-one (92,6 % women) SSc individuals with mean age 55.44 � 13.4 years were included in this analysis. Within-groups comparisons revealed a trend between higher ADMA levels and progressive micro-vasculopathy (1,29 [2,1] vs 1,57 [1,95] vs 2,41 [3,87] for early, active and late patterns respectively, p = 0.039). Furthermore, ADMA concentration was significantly associated with the number of capillaries/mm (r = -0.235 p = 0.035). Conclusions: Serum ADMA levels were significantly associated with advancing stages of microcirculatory abnormalities suggesting that ADMA may have a role in promoting microvascular endothelial dysfunction in SSc individuals. Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors disclose that they don't have any financial or other relationships, which might lead to a conflict of interest regarding this paper. Copyright � 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Citation
Pagkopoulou E, Soulaidopoulos S, Triantafyllidou E, Loutradis C, Malliari A, Kitas GD, Garyfallos A, Dimitroulas T. Asymmetric dimethylarginine correlates with worsening peripheral microangiopathy in systemic sclerosis. Microvasc Res. 2023 Jan;145:104448. doi: 10.1016/j.mvr.2022.104448. Epub 2022 Oct 29. PMID: 36374797.
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Article