Key result
Asthma patients with high blood eosinophil counts (≥ 300/µl) had significantly reduced radial strain in the right common carotid artery compared to those with low counts (2.7% vs 3.5%, p=0.008).
Why the study?
Asthma is linked to atherosclerosis, but the underlying mediators remain elusive, and eosinophils may contribute to both asthmatic and atherosclerotic inflammation.
Does a high blood eosinophil count correlate with increased vascular stiffness in patients with asthma?
Cross-Sectional (n=100)
Single-blind
No
Does a high blood eosinophil count correlate with increased vascular stiffness in patients with asthma?
Absolute Event Rate: 2.7% vs 3.5%
p-value: p=0.008
Elevated blood eosinophil counts in asthma patients are associated with increased arterial stiffness, suggesting a potential role for eosinophils in early atherogenesis.
No immediate practice change; leaves open whether eosinophils promote carotid stiffness in asthma.
OBJECTIVE: Asthma is linked to atherosclerosis, yet the underlying mediators remain elusive. Eosinophils may contribute to both asthmatic and atherosclerotic inflammation. Hence, this study aimed to explore the potential associations of eosinophils with artery changes among patients with asthma. METHODS: We assessed strain values of the common carotid arteries (CCAs) via vascular speckle tracking and compared asthma patients with low (< 300/µl) and high (≥ 300/µl) blood eosinophil counts (BEC). RESULTS: We enrolled 100 patients, 42 with a BEC of < 300 and 58 with a BEC of ≥ 300 n/µl. Patients with high BEC exhibited more severe disease, characterized, e.g., by a higher frequency of acute exacerbations (1.3 ± 2.1 vs. 2.6 ± 2.4 n/year, p = 0.005). Both groups presented similar profiles in terms of conventional cardiovascular risk. The high BEC group demonstrated elevated arterial stiffness, reflected by reduced radial strain (mean radial strain of the right CCA: 2.7 ± 1.4% for BEC ≥ 300 n/µl vs. 3.5 ± 1.7% for BEC < 300 n/µl, p = 0.008; left CCA: 2.6 ± 1.4% vs. 4.1 ± 2.2%, p < 0.001). A weak yet statistically significant negative correlation was observed between BEC and radial strain for the right CCA (R2 = 0.131, b=-0.001, p = 0.001) and left CCA (R2 = 0.086, b=-0.001, p = 0.015). However, the prevalence of cerebrovascular disease was similar in both groups (31,0% vs. 50,0%, p = 0.057). CONCLUSION: We identified a correlation between BEC and vascular stiffness, which supports the hypothesis that eosinophils may promote atherosclerosis. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Due to the exploratory and predominantly retrospective nature of the study, trial registration was not conducted. The only prospective procedure conducted was the angiological sonography to evaluate the current state. No ensuing health-related interventions were performed specifically for this study.
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Biener et al. (2024) conducted a cross-sectional in Asthma (n=100). High blood eosinophil count (≥ 300/µl) vs. Low blood eosinophil count (< 300/µl) was evaluated on Radial strain of the right common carotid artery (%) (p=0.008). Asthma patients with high blood eosinophil counts (≥ 300/µl) had significantly reduced radial strain in the right common carotid artery compared to those with low counts (2.7% vs 3.5%, p=0.008).
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