Peripheral vascular reactivity in patients with systemic sclerosis

We investigated the vascular reactivity of peripheral vessels and the relationship between the microcirculation and endothelial function in patients with systemic sclerosis. 25 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) (aged 47+2,6 years) and 15 healthy controls were included in this study. Duration of disease was 8,3+1,7 years. We used a Laser Doppler imager (LDI) to continuously monitor the changes in skin blood flow and evaluation of endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation. Results of LDI have shown the reduction of a capillary perfusion in comparison with healthy controls. The dysfunction of microcirculation correlated with peripheral vascular reactivity in Ssc.В данном исследовании изучены особенности регуляции тонуса периферических сосудов в аспекте взаимосвязи с нарушеними микроциркуляции у больных системной склеродермией (ССК). В исследование включены 25 больных ССК (средний возраст 47+2,6 лет) длительностью заболевания 8,3+1,7 лет и 15 практически здоровых, сопоставимых по возрасту и полу. Комплексное обследование включало лабораторные и инструментальные методы, лазерную допплерографию, оценку эндотелий-зависимой (ЭЗВД) и эндотелий-независимой вазодилатации (ЭНВД). У всех больных ССК выявлено снижение капилллярной перфузии, нарушение периферической сосудистой реактивности в сравнении с практически здоровыми. Выраженность микроциркуляторных нарушений при ССК зависит от степени изменения структурно-функционального состояния эндотелия на периферическом сосудистом уровне

Demographic, clinical and antibody characteristics of patients with digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: data from the DUO Registry

OBJECTIVES: The Digital Ulcers Outcome (DUO) Registry was designed to describe the clinical and antibody characteristics, disease course and outcomes of patients with digital ulcers associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: The DUO Registry is a European, prospective, multicentre, observational, registry of SSc patients with ongoing digital ulcer disease, irrespective of treatment regimen. Data collected included demographics, SSc duration, SSc subset, internal organ manifestations, autoantibodies, previous and ongoing interventions and complications related to digital ulcers. RESULTS: Up to 19 November 2010 a total of 2439 patients had enrolled into the registry. Most were classified as either limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc; 52.2%) or diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc; 36.9%). Digital ulcers developed earlier in patients with dcSSc compared with lcSSc. Almost all patients (95.7%) tested positive for antinuclear antibodies, 45.2% for anti-scleroderma-70 and 43.6% for anticentromere antibodies (ACA). The first digital ulcer in the anti-scleroderma-70-positive patient cohort occurred approximately 5 years earlier than the ACA-positive patient group. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides data from a large cohort of SSc patients with a history of digital ulcers. The early occurrence and high frequency of digital ulcer complications are especially seen in patients with dcSSc and/or anti-scleroderma-70 antibodies

Angiotensin II potenziert die Endothelin-1-induzierte Vasokonstriktion in der Haut-Mikrozirkulation junger, gesunder Männer über Angiotensin II Rezeptoren

S. Beach's Organ truck photographed 26 July 1964. Bradley negative number 11210. Digitisation and record funded by the Pilgrim Trust