Peripheral microcirculatory abnormalities are associated with cardiovascular risk in systemic sclerosis: a nailfold video capillaroscopy study

Introduction Microvascular dysfunction is the key element in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc), whereas the contribution of large and medium size vessel abnormalities is yet to be established. The aim of the present study is to assess the association between micro- and macrovascular function by utilizing a broad spectrum of assessments of vascular performance. Methods We included consecutive, consenting SSc patients who underwent nailfold video capillaroscopy (NVC) for microcirculation evaluation. Peripheral and central systolic and diastolic blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), aortic augmentation index (AIx) corrected for a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (AIx-75), and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) were also performed to assess macrovascular function. Cardiovascular risk disease (CVD) algorithms were also calculated and included in the analysis. Results A total of 81 patients (6 males) were studied with mean age 55.44 +/- 13.40 years. Reduced capillary density was inversely correlated with arterial stiffness (Alx-75) and augmentation pressure (r = - 0.262, p = 0.018, and r = - 0.249, p = 0.025 respectively). Alx was significantly lower in the early compared to late pattern (28.24 +/- 11.75 vs 35.63 +/- 10.47, p = 0.036). A significant trend was found among NVC patterns with Alx-75 values being higher with the progression of microangiopathy towards the late group (26.36 +/- 10.90 vs 30.81 +/- 11.59 vs 35.21 +/- 7.90, p = 0.027 for trend). Similarly, Framingham risk score and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease score were progressively higher across the worsening NVC patterns (4.10 +/- 4.13 vs 2.99 +/- 2.72 vs 6.36 +/- 5.65, p = 0.023, and 6.99 +/- 7.18 vs 5.63 +/- 4.41 vs 12.09 +/- 9.90, p = 0.019, respectively, for trends). Finally, QRISK3 (10-year cardiovascular disease risk) and ASCVD (Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease) scores were inversely correlated with the number of capillaries (r = - 0.231, p = 0.048, and r = - 0.260, p = 0.038 respectively). Conclusion These data suggest that CVD risk scores and macrovascular parameters are strongly correlated with microvasculopathy in patients with SSc.

Automated summary

The study found that reduced capillary density was inversely correlated with arterial stiffness and augmentation pressure, with significant differences in arterial augmentation index across different NVC patterns. Framingham risk score and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease score were positively correlated with the severity of microvasculopathy. Additionally, QRISK3 and ASCVD scores were inversely correlated with the number of capillaries.