Short-Term Variability of Both Brachial and Aortic Blood Pressure is Increased in Patients with Immune-mediated Chronic Inflammation.

Introduction: Blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) has emerged as an indicator of subclinical organ damage and an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality in high-risk populations.

Aim: We aimed to assess short-term variability of both brachial and aortic BP in psoriasis, a common immune-mediated inflammatory disorder characterized by increased CVD risk.

Methods: Psoriasis patients and non-psoriasis individuals had their BP assessed throughout a 24 h period (Mobil-O-Graph device).

Endothelial dysfunction and complement activation are independently associated with disease duration in patients with systemic vasculitis.

Objectives: Systemic vasculitis is a heterogenous group of autoimmune diseases characterized by enhanced cardiovascular mortality. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with accelerated vascular damage, representing a core pathophysiologic mechanism contributing to excess CV risk. Recent studies have also shown that complement activation holds significant role in the pathogenesis of Anti-Neutrophilic Cytoplasmic Autoantibody (ANCA) -associated vasculitis (AAV).

Non-Invasive Assessment of Micro- and Macrovascular Function after Initiation of JAK Inhibitors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors constitute a novel class of oral biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, their use has been associated with increased risk of major cardiovascular events. We investigated whether treatment with JAK inhibitors exerts significant alterations in the micro- and microvasculature in RA patients.

Accumulation of Microvascular Target Organ Damage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Is Associated with Increased Cardiovascular Risk.

: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototype autoimmune disease associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) burden. Besides increased arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis, microvascular dysfunction is considered an important component in the pathophysiology of CV disease. However, there is a lack of data regarding the effect of multiple target organ damage (TOD) on CV health.

Clinical Significance of Nocturnal Hypertension and Nighttime Blood Pressure Dipping in Hypertension.

Purpose Of Review: This narrative review article aims to discuss more recent evidence, current challenges, and future perspectives regarding the clinical importance of nocturnal hypertension and nighttime blood pressure dipping, with particular reference to diagnosis, prognostic value, and therapeutic approach.

Recent Findings: The importance of nighttime blood pressure and nighttime blood pressure dipping has been demonstrated in decades. Increased nighttime blood pressure has been acknowledged as an unfavorable clinical trait.

Circulating microvesicles across a population with various degree of cardiovascular burden are associated with systolic blood pressure.

Circulating microvesicles (MVs) have been studied in heterogeneous, divergent, and rather small patient populations with cardiovascular risk . Therefore, we measured endothelial (EMVs), platelet (PMVs) and erythrocyte (RMVs) MVs in patients with divergent cardiovascular risk. We then compared them to coronary artery disease (CAD) and healthy subjects and identified independent MVs' predictors.

Circulating levels of galectin-3 and coronary microvascular perfusion in rheumatoid arthritis patients with suppressed inflammation.

Objective: Cardiovascular manifestations are the leading cause of mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Galectin-3, a lectin protein with major role in cellular, inflammatory, and fibrotic processes, has been introduced as a novel cardiac biomarker. We hypothesized that patients with RA present increased levels of galectin-3, and investigated potential associations with arterial stiffness and coronary microvascular dysfunction.

Peripheral nailfold capillary microscopic abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis are associated with arterial stiffness: Results from a cross-sectional study.

Vascular injury eventually resulting in the establishment of cardiovascular disease is a serious complication in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is a non-invasive imaging modality that enables the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the peripheral microvasculature. Nevertheless, capillaroscopic patterns remain inadequately defined in RA, especially regarding their clinical significance as potential markers of systemic vascular impairment.

The importance of microvascular inflammation in ageing and age-related diseases: a position paper from the ESH working group on small arteries, section of microvascular inflammation.

Microcirculation is pervasive and orchestrates a profound regulatory cross-talk with the surrounding tissue and organs. Similarly, it is one of the earliest biological systems targeted by environmental stressors and consequently involved in the development and progression of ageing and age-related disease. Microvascular dysfunction, if not targeted, leads to a steady derangement of the phenotype, which cumulates comorbidities and eventually results in a nonrescuable, very high-cardiovascular risk.

JAK Inhibition in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Haemodynamic Effects and Impact on Micro- and Macrovascular Function. Study Design and Rationale.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterised by increased rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which represents the leading cause of death. Patients with RA presents increased prevalence of hypertension, which substantially contributes to the increased CVD burden associated with the disease. A solid pathophysiological background supports the presence of microvascular dysfunction in RA even in the absence of established CVD, while macrovascular dysfunction in the form of large artery stiffening has been further described.

Association between ambulatory blood pressure monitoring patterns with cognitive function and risk of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate whether nocturnal blood pressure fall, expressed by dipping patterns according to 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), is associated with abnormal cognitive function (cognitive impairment or dementia).

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases to identify original articles through December 2022. We included any study with at least ten participants reporting on all-cause dementia or cognitive impairment incidence (primary outcome) or validated cognitive tests (secondary outcome) among ABPM patterns.

Microvascular and Endothelial Dysfunction in Prediabetes.

Prediabetes is a significant metabolic status since there is high potential for future progression of diabetes mellitus (DM). People with prediabetes are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. Endothelial and microvascular dysfunction is considered a key step towards the development and progression of CVD.

Skin microcirculation dynamics are impaired in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and no cardiovascular comorbidities.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Microvascular endothelial dysfunction contributes to the development of vascular injury and subsequent CVD. We hypothesised that RA patients exhibit blunted microvascular reactivity regardless of CVD risk factors and investigated potential associations with coronary microvascular perfusion and surrogate markers of CVD.

Study of Peripheral Microcirculation Assessed by Nailfold Video-Capillaroscopy and Association with Markers of Endothelial Dysfunction and Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that primarily affects synovial joints and is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) mortality and morbidity. This association is only partially attributed to the presence of classic CV disease risk factors, and is strongly associated with characteristics of disease itself namely systemic chronic inflammation and autoimmune activation. Growing evidence suggests that microvascular endothelial dysfunction contributes to the initiation and progression of vascular disease.

Assessment of microvesicles from different cell origins in patients with psoriasis: evidence of thrombogenic, proinflammatory microenvironment in the absence of established cardiovascular disease.

Psoriasis is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Endothelial, platelet, and erythrocyte microvesicles (MVs) are novel biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and thromboinflammation. We explored whether MVs of different cell types are elevated in patients with psoriasis, and investigated potential associations with disease severity and macrovascular function.

Microcirculation dynamics in systemic vasculitis: evidence of impaired microvascular response regardless of cardiovascular risk factors.

Objectives: Systemic vasculitides (SVs) are a highly inflammatory group of diseases characterized by significant cardiovascular (CV) mortality. Microvascular damage closely linked with accelerated atherosclerosis and thrombosis represents a core pathophysiological mechanism contributing to the excess CV risk of patients with SVs. Skin represents an easily accessible tissue facilitating non-invasive microvascular study.

Blunted Microvascular Reactivity in Psoriasis Patients in the Absence of Cardiovascular Disease, as Assessed by Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging.

Psoriasis is associated with accelerated rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI) is a novel, non-interventional technique for the dynamic assessment of microvascular endothelial dysfunction, which represents an early precursor of CVD. We investigated whether skin microvascular reactivity is impaired in psoriasis and whether an association exists with large artery stiffening.

Clinical presentation and diagnostic evaluation of pheochromocytoma: case series and literature review.

Background: Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor frequently overlooked mainly due to the wide range of its clinical presentation, which may vary from entirely untypical signs and symptoms to life-threatening complications.

Methods: The present study aims to present a case series recently treated in our center, with emphasis placed on patients' specific characteristics, clinical presentation and diagnostic evaluation. Relevant literature and current guidelines are being briefly reviewed to summarize screening for pheochromocytoma and appropriate diagnostic procedures.

Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy for the Evaluation of Peripheral Microangiopathy in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and refractory autoimmune joint disease that affects multiple organs. Several methods have been applied for the study of microvascular endothelial dysfunction, which is considered an important component of vascular disease in RA. Implementation of nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) represents a viable choice, as the skin is an easily accessible window for the non-invasive, real-time assessment of subtle microcirculation abnormalities.

Endothelial Dysfunction in Psoriasis: An Updated Review.

Although psoriasis is predominantly a chronic inflammatory skin disorder, epidemiological data provide a solid link between psoriasis, especially in its more severe forms, and increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Apart from the increased prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, chronic inflammation appears to act synergistically with the underlying process of endothelial dysfunction toward the development of accelerated atherosclerosis, subclinical vascular injury and subsequently, clinically evident cardiovascular manifestations. Endothelial dysfunction is regarded as an early precursor of atherosclerosis with a predictive value for the development of future cardiovascular events.

Blunted cerebral oxygenation during exercise in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Objectives: Subclinical brain lesions have been reported in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Advanced neuroimaging techniques have revealed microstructural and microvascular alterations. Most studies examining structural or functional brain abnormalities were performed either at rest or during a mental task.

Monitoring and Managing Cardiovascular Risk in Immune Mediated Inflammatory Diseases.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) and it is predominately attributed to the interplay between chronic inflammation and traditional CVD risk factors. CVD has significant impact on the survival of patients with IMIDs as it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Despite recommendations for monitoring and managing CVD in patients with IMIDs, the individual CVD risk assessment remains problematic as CVD risk calculators for the general population consistently underestimate the risk in patients with IMIDs.