Key result
Systemic lupus erythematosus was associated with a significantly smaller peak magnitude of skin microvascular blood flow during reperfusion compared with matched controls (161.0% vs 197.2%, P=0.002).
Why the study?
Patients with SLE have increased cardiovascular mortality, and macro- and micro-circulation alterations have been associated with cardiovascular disease.
Do patients with systemic lupus erythematosus exhibit skin microvascular dysfunction compared to matched controls?
Case-Control (n=66)
Do patients with systemic lupus erythematosus exhibit skin microvascular dysfunction compared to matched controls?
Absolute Event Rate: 161% vs 197.2%
p-value: p=0.002
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus exhibit blunted skin microvascular reactivity independently of overt cardiovascular disease or risk factors, indicating early vascular damage.
May indicate early vascular damage in SLE without overt CVD; hypothesis-generating for prognostic and therapeutic implications.
OBJECTIVES: Patients with SLE have increased cardiovascular mortality. Alterations in both macro- and micro-circulation have been associated with cardiovascular disease. We sought to assess skin microvascular function by using laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA) in patients with SLE, with and without cardiovascular disease and risk factors. METHODS: Continuous blood flow was recorded using a LASCA device during baseline, a 5-min arterial occlusion and a 5-min reperfusion period. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients with SLE (85.7% women) with a median disease duration 12.0 (6.5-17.5) years and a mean age of 46.3 (8.6) years and 31 controls matched for age, sex and BMI were enrolled. During reperfusion, SLE patients exhibited a smaller peak magnitude compared with controls (161.0 (47.1) vs 197.2 (41.4)%, respectively, P =0.002). Results remained unchanged among 24 SLE patients without cardiovascular disease compared with the control group (169.2 (48.1) vs 195.6 (34.0)%, respectively, P =0.002). CONCLUSION: Our study shows, for the first time, that patients with SLE, even without overt cardiovascular disease or risk factors, exhibit a blunted microvascular reactivity during reperfusion compared with controls. These results show that skin microvascular dysfunction is present in SLE independently of the CV burden that these patients bear and may represent an early sign of vascular damage.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Koletsos et al. (2020) conducted a case-control in Systemic lupus erythematosus (n=66). Systemic lupus erythematosus vs. Matched controls was evaluated on Peak magnitude of skin microvascular blood flow during reperfusion (p=0.002). Systemic lupus erythematosus was associated with a significantly smaller peak magnitude of skin microvascular blood flow during reperfusion compared with matched controls (161.0% vs 197.2%, P=0.002).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: