Early myocardial damage and microvascular dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with systemic sclerosis: A cardiovascular magnetic resonance study with cold pressor test.

Purpose: Cardiac involvement in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is increasingly recognized as a mayor cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of present study is to investigate the early stages of cardiac involvement in SSc by Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), combining the non-invasive detection of myocardial inflammation and fibrosis using T2 and T1 mapping techniques and the assessment of microcirculatory impairment through perfusion response to cold pressor test (CPT).

Methods: 40 SSc patients (30 females, mean age: 42.

Splenic Blood Flow Increases after Hypothermic Stimulus (Cold Pressor Test): A Perfusion Magnetic Resonance Study.

The Cold Pressor Test (CPT) is a novel diagnostic strategy to noninvasively assess the myocardial microvascular endothelial-dependent function using perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Spleen perfusion is modulated by a complex combination of several mechanisms involving the autonomic nervous system and vasoactive mediators release. In this context, the effects of cold temperature on splenic blood flow (SBF) still need to be clarified.

Role of autonomic dysfunction in the regulation of myocardial blood flow in systemic sclerosis evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance.

Aim: Autonomic dysfunction (AD) is an early feature of systemic sclerosis (SSc). A regular endothelial function is a prerequisite for normal response of the myocardial blood flow (MBF) to cold pressure test (CPT). The aim of the study was to evaluate the relation between MBF and AD at rest and after CPT in asymptomatic SSc patients.

Female sexual dysfunction in systemic sclerosis: The role of endothelial growth factor and endostatin.

Introduction: Since female sexual dysfunction in systemic sclerosis women is multifactorial, we can assume that vascular damage may play a role in pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clitoral blood flow, by Echo color Doppler, and to correlate it whit serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin.

Methods: A total of 15 systemic sclerosis women and 10 healthy controls matched for sex and age were enrolled in this study.

In systemic sclerosis skin perfusion of hands is reduced and may predict the occurrence of new digital ulcers.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients are at high risk for the development of ischemic digital ulcers (DUs). The aim of this study was to assess in SSc patients a correlation between skin perfusion evaluated by LDPI and DUs and to evaluate the prognostic value of skin perfusion to predict the new DUs occurrence. Fifty eight (47 female, 11 male) SSc patients were enrolled.

Serum uric acid as a marker of microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis patients.

Background: Microvascular damage of skin and internal organs is a hallmark of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Serum uric acid (UA) represents a marker of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. The aims of this study were to evaluate the correlation between serum UA and intrarenal arterial stiffness evaluated by Doppler ultrasound in SSc patients with normal renal function.

Nickel-Related Intestinal Mucositis in IBS-Like Patients: Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging and Oral Mucosa Patch Test in Use.

Nickel (Ni) is often the trigger of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like gastrointestinal disorders: its ingestion may cause allergic contact mucositis, identifiable by means of oral mucosa patch test (omPT). OmPT effectiveness has been proven, but it is still an operator-dependent method. Laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) was tested to support omPT in Ni allergic contact mucositis diagnosis.

The cardiac magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of cardiac Raynaud phenomenon in a patient with systemic sclerosis: case report and review of literature.

Raynaud phenomenon (RP) is the hallmark of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). Visceral RP has also been proposed in SSc patients. Cardiac Raynaud's phenomenon (C-RP) was evaluated in a few clinical studies both as cold-induced transient myocardial ischaemia and as presence of advanced myocardial fibrosis and contraction band necrosis in autopsied patients.

Sexual distress, sexual dysfunction and relationship quality in women with systemic sclerosis: correlation with clinical variables.

To assess the rate of sexual distress, sexual dysfunction and relationship quality and their association with clinical variables in women with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 102 sexually active women with SSc were recruited. Sexual distress, sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction with relationship quality were investigated by Female Sexual Distress Scale Revised (FSDS-R), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), respectively. The patients underwent medical examinations and nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC).

Erectile dysfunction, endothelium dysfunction, and microvascular damage in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) prevalence in men with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is high and can be considered a manifestation of endothelium damage.

Aim: This study aims to correlate ED with endothelial dysfunction and digital vascular damage in SSc patients.

Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures were erectile function, Doppler indices of cavernous arteries, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), capillaroscopic damage, skin perfusion, and digital pulsatility.

Red blood cell alterations in systemic sclerosis: a pilot study.

Aims: The aim of this work was to investigate whether systemic oxidative imbalance that occurs in patients with systemic sclerosis affects red blood cell integrity.

Methods: Reactive oxygen species, intracellular content of total thiols and molecules involved in red blood cell aging (e.g.

Intrarenal hemodynamic parameters correlate with glomerular filtration rate and digital microvascular damage in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: To evaluate intrarenal arterial stiffness by Doppler ultrasound and examine the correlation between renal Doppler indices, glomerular filtration rate, and digital microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis patients.

Methods: Thirty systemic sclerosis patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Doppler indices of intrarenal arterial stiffness, peak systolic flow velocity, end diastolic flow velocity, resistive index, pulsative index, and systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio were measured on the interlobar artery of both kidneys.

Long-term N-acetylcysteine therapy in systemic sclerosis interstitial lung disease: a retrospective study.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with interstitial lung diseases. The primary endpoints of this study were changes between baseline and month 24 in single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco). The secondary endpoints were: vital capacity (VC), forced expired volume in 1 sec (FEV1), total lung capacity (TLC), scores of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest, number of adverse effects.

In systemic sclerosis macrovascular damage of hands digital arteries correlates with microvascular damage.

Objective: To assess morphology and blood flow of the proper palmar digital arteries (PPDA) by color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and its relationship with nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC), skin blood perfusion and digital arteries pulsatility of hands in SSc patients and healthy controls.

Methods: CDUS, NVC, laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) and photoplethysmography (PPG) were performed in 36 systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and 20 healthy controls.

Results: CDUS was pathologic in 69% of patients with SSc and in none of healthy controls (p<0.

Laser Doppler perfusion imaging in systemic sclerosis impaired response to cold stimulation involves digits and hand dorsum.

Objectives: To assess by Laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) skin blood perfusion of hands in patients with SSc and primary RP (PRP) at baseline and after cold stimulation (CS). In SSc patients, the associations between skin perfusion and nailfold video capillaroscopy (NVC) patterns were also evaluated.

Methods: Forty patients with SSc, 38 patients with PRP and 32 healthy controls were recruited.

The different photoplethysmographic patterns can help to distinguish patients with primary and sclerodermic Raynaud phenomenon.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate pulsatility of digital arteries of hands by means of photoplethysmography (PPG) in patients with primary Raynaud phenomenon (PRP) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to compare the results with those obtained in healthy controls.

Methods: One hundred five patients with SSc, 96 patients with PRP and 85 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy and PPG were performed in healthy controls and patients.

N-acetylcysteine infusion reduces the resistance index of renal artery in the early stage of systemic sclerosis.

Aim: To evaluate resistance index (RI) changes in renal artery after N-acetylcysteine infusion in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Methods: In an open-label study 40 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were treated with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) iv infusion over 5 consecutive hours, at a dose of 0.015 g x kg(-1) x h(-1).

The treatment with N-acetylcysteine of Raynaud's phenomenon and ischemic ulcers therapy in sclerodermic patients: a prospective observational study of 50 patients.

N-Acetylcysteine is useful in the short-term treatment of severe Raynaud's phenomenon and digital ulcers (DU) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), but its long-term effects are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to report long-term outcome (median follow-up 3 years) in a prospective study of a cohort of 50 consecutive patients with SSc who received N-acetylcysteine (NAC) infusional therapy every 2 weeks. We observed a reduction of DU/patient/year (4.

Laser Doppler perfusion imaging is useful in the study of Raynaud's phenomenon and improves the capillaroscopic diagnosis.

Objective: To investigate capillary morphology and skin blood flow of dorsal hands by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) and laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI), respectively, in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to compare the results with those obtained in healthy controls.

Methods: The study group consisted of 142 patients with SSc, 88 patients with PRP, and 147 healthy controls. NVC was performed in all the groups examined.