Objective: To measure plasma concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (HS-cTnT) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) and age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects, and to examine the contribution of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and SSc features to the concentrations of these 2 cardiac biomarkers.
Methods: Plasma HS-cTnT and NT-proBNP concentrations were measured using the electrochemiluminescence method and sandwich immunoassay, respectively.
Results: The study group comprised 161 unrelated patients with SSc and 213 matched control subjects. HS-cTnT and NT-proBNP plasma levels were significantly increased in SSc patients compared with controls (both P < 0.001). Similar results were observed in the subgroup of patients with SSc who had no cardiovascular risk factors (n = 72). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed diabetes mellitus (P = 0.006), high blood pressure (P = 0.021), precapillary pulmonary hypertension (P = 0.039), and the diffuse cutaneous SSc (P = 0.004) as factors independently associated with an HS-cTnT level of >14 ng/liter. Increased NT-proBNP concentrations were associated only with the presence of precapillary pulmonary hypertension (P < 0.001). Normal concentrations of both HS-cTnT and NT-proBNP had a high negative predictive value for precapillary pulmonary hypertension (92%), and the combination of increased values of these 2 markers had the highest strength of association with precapillary pulmonary hypertension in logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion: HS-cTnT and NT-proBNP concentrations are increased in patients with SSc, even in those who are free of cardiovascular risk factors. These easily obtained biomarkers may be useful for systematic evaluation and stratification of SSc patients, especially to identify those at risk of pulmonary hypertension.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/acr.22547 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Multi-Modality Imaging in Cardio-Rheumatology.
Curr Cardiol Rep
January 2025
Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
Purpose Of Review: Our purpose was to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various noninvasive imaging modalities in the evaluation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). The detailed knowledge of imaging modalities will facilitate the diagnosis and follow up of CVD in ARDs.
Recent Findings: Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (ARDs) are characterized by alterations in immunoregulatory system of the body.
The burden of illness of the organ manifestations of systemic sclerosis: a pragmatic, targeted review.
Clin Exp Rheumatol
January 2025
Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Objectives: This structured, targeted literature review aimed to assess the mortality, humanistic and economic burden of eight organ manifestations which are commonly experienced by systemic sclerosis patients.
Methods: Identification of relevant literature was carried out by searching in Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE, PubMed, and NHS Economic Evaluation Database in August 2023. Studies reporting original data on patients with systemic sclerosis with at least one of eight organ manifestations (interstitial lung disease and/or pulmonary hypertension, skin, peripheral vascular, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, cardiac or renal involvement) published within the last 15 years were included.
Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disease, frequently affecting the skin, lungs, and pulmonary vasculature. Approximately 30-50% of SSc patients develop interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), with 30-35% of related deaths attributed to it. Even though men are less likely to develop systemic sclerosis, they have a higher incidence of SSc-ILD than women, and they tend to develop it at a younger age with a higher mortality rate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiversity and function of regulatory T cells in health and autoimmune diseases.
J Autoimmun
January 2025
Department of Dermatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China. Electronic address:
Regulatory T cell (Treg) play a pivotal role in immune regulation and maintaining host immune homeostasis. Treg heterogeneity, characterized by diverse gene expression profiles and functional states, is complex in both health and disease. Research reveals that Tregs are not a uniform population but exhibit diversity based on their origin, location, and functional status.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComparing the efficacy and safety of extended vs standard dosing of ocrelizumab in MS: A systemic review and meta-analysis.
Mult Scler Relat Disord
January 2025
Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a challenging autoimmune disease that disrupts the central nervous system, leading to a range of symptoms. Ocrelizumab, a treatment commonly used for MS, targets B cells to help manage the disease. While the standard-interval dosing (SID) is effective, the COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns about safety, particularly around immune responses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!