The microinjection method used for the first time in this study makes it possible to measure in vivo the endothelium-dependent vasomotion in the nailfold capillaries of systemic scleroderma patients. Aceylcholine (blood concentration of 10(-5) M) and sodium nitroprusside (blood concentration of 1.6 microg per kg per min) were used as test substances to examine capillary vasomotion. Defined quantities of medication in the range of microliters were administered as a bolus using the Panomat V-3 medicine pump. The boluses were injected into the capillaries at the capillary loop in 10 scleroderma patients and 10 randomized healthy volunteers. Blood flow velocity and the diameter of the skin capillaries at the venous loop were measured and tested for correlation with the effects of injections of test substances. The intracapillary administration of sodium nitroprusside brought about a significant decrease in capillary blood flow velocity and a significant increase in vascular diameter in comparison with baseline values, both in systemic scleroderma patients (p<0.005 and p<0.0001) and in the healthy volunteers (p<0.001 and p<0.0001). The intracapillary administration of acetylcholine led to a significant decrease in blood flow velocity (p<0.001) and increase in vascular diameter (p<0.0001) only in the healthy volunteers. In systemic sclerosis patients capillary diameter and blood flow velocity were unaffected. In two systemic scleroderma patients this procedure was repeated in identical fashion at the end of a 1 wk infusion therapy cycle with prostacyclin. The infusion therapy led to a normalization of endothelium-dependent vasomotion in the two scleroderma patients. The microinjection technique used in this study for the first time made it possible to establish in vivo that endothelium-dependent vasomotion is disturbed in systemic scleroderma patients.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.2003.12023.x | DOI Listing |
Rheumatology (Oxford)
January 2025
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Objectives: The 2022 European Society of Cardiology and European Respiratory Society (ESC/ERS) Guidelines for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) recommend risk stratification to optimize management. However, the performance of generic PAH risk stratification tools in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated PAH remains unclear. Our objective was to identify the most accurate approach for risk stratification at SSc-PAH diagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRheumatology (Oxford)
January 2025
Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Objectives: Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy (PSN) is an under-recognized feature in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Moreover, SSc foot involvement is frequent but poorly investigated. We aimed to provide a detailed characterization of foot PSN in a large cohort of SSc patients, describing its associations with disease-specific features, physical disability, and Quality of Life (QoL).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPostepy Dermatol Alergol
December 2024
Department of Dermatology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Introduction: Systemic sclerosis is a complex disease characterized by the fibrosis and vasculopathy.
Aim: We aimed to assess scleroderma by examining involucrin, an early terminal differentiation marker of epidermal keratinocytes.
Material And Methods: Immunolocalization of involucrin was performed in healthy controls and patients with scleroderma lesions by using an immunofluorescence (IF) assay.
Ann Rheum Dis
January 2025
School of Medicine, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; LTHT, NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds, UK. Electronic address:
Background: The EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc) were updated in 2017, informed by a systematic literature review (SLR) completed in 2014.
Objectives: The aim of this new SLR was to provide the most up-to-date literature to underpin contemporary EULAR recommendations for the management of SSc.
Methods: 30 searches for 30 interventions (including several outcomes/clinical questions), and 1 dedicated search (with several interventions) for calcinosis were prioritised by the task force.
Ann Rheum Dis
January 2025
Department of Rheumatology, Université Paris Cité UFR de Médecine, Paris, France.
Objectives: To update the 2017 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc), incorporating new evidence and therapies.
Methods: An international task force was convened in line with EULAR standard operating procedures. A nominal group technique exercise was performed in two rounds to define questions underpinning a subsequent systematic literature review.
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!