Termografía infrarroja en la detección de la función endotelial normal / Infrared thermography for normal endothelial function screening

Resumen Antecedentes: La sospecha de disfunción endotelial (DE) permitirá prevenir la aterosclerosis acelerada y la muerte prematura. Objetivo: Establecer la utilidad de la termografía en el cribado de la función endotelial en adultos con factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal analítico de prueba diagnóstica. El incremento del diámetro de la arteria braquial < 11 % a un minuto posisquemia significó probable DE, confirmada si el diámetro fue ≥ 11 % posnitroglicerina sublingual. Se obtuvieron fotografías termográficas al minuto de la región palmar. Se aplicó estadística descriptiva, curva ROC, pruebas U de Mann-Whitney, chi cuadrada o exacta de Fisher. Resultados: Se incluyeron 38 sujetos, mediana de edad de 50 años, con 624 mediciones termográficas; nueve presentaron DE (vasodilatación mediada por flujo de 2.5 %). El mejor punto de corte para la función endotelial normal en sujetos con factores de riesgo cardiovascular fue ≥ 36 °C al minuto de isquemia, con sensibilidad de 85%, especificidad de 70%, valores predictivos positivo y negativo de 78 y 77%, área bajo la curva de 0.796, razón de verisimilitud positiva de 2.82 y razón de verisimilitud negativa de 0.22. Conclusión: La medición de la temperatura en la región palmar mediante termografía infrarroja ≥ 36 °C tras un minuto de isquemia es práctica, no invasiva y económica para el cribado de la función endotelial normal en adultos con factores de riesgo cardiovascular.

Abstract Background: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) suspicion will allow to prevent accelerated atherosclerosis and premature death. Objective: To establish the usefulness of thermography for endothelial function screening in adults with cardiovascular risk factors. Material and methods: Cross-sectional, analytical diagnostic test. A brachial arterial diameter (BAD) increase <11 % at one-minute post-ischemia meant probable ED and was confirmed if BAD was ≥ 11 % post-sublingual nitroglycerin. Thermographic photographs of the palmar region were obtained at one minute. Descriptive statistics, ROC curve, Mann-Whitney’s U-test, chi-square test, or Fisher’s exact test were used. Results: Thirty-eight subjects with a median age of 50 years, and with 624 thermographic measurements were included. Nine had ED (flow-mediated vasodilation (FMV): 2.5 %. The best cutoff point for normal endothelial function in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors was ≥ 36 °C at one minute of ischemia, with 85 % sensitivity, 70 % specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 78 and 77 %, area under the curve of 0.796, LR+ 2.82, LR- 0.22. Conclusions: An infrared thermography-measured temperature in the palmar region greater than or equal to 36 °C after one minute of ischemia is practical, non-invasive, and inexpensive for normal endothelial function screening in adults with cardiovascular risk factors.

Influence of visceral adiposity on cardiovascular risk in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, generalized fibrosis and high cardiovascular mortality. The evaluation of cardiovascular risk through the visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been helpful due to its direct relationship to the body and visceral fat percentage. We evaluated the influence of body composition and anthropometrics on cardiovascular risk as measured by VAI in healthy controls (HC) and SSc. An analytical cross-sectional study of 66 participants (33 SSc and 33 HC), mean age 52.7 ± 10, 95% women, was conducted from August 2020 to January 2021. Inclusion criteria in cases were consecutive patients with SSc (ACR/EULAR 2013), 63.6% were diffuse cutaneous (dcSS) subtype, and 36.4 were limited cutaneous (lcSS) subtype. HC was matched by age and gender. Serum lipid profiles and InBody anthropometrics were analyzed and compared. We performed descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis with Student's t, or Mann-Whitney U, correlation and chi-square according to the variable type and distribution. Total cholesterol was significantly higher in SSc than HC (345 vs 194, p = < 0.001). The BMI was higher in HC (26.2 vs 28.9, p < 0.001). Kilograms of muscle (19.8 vs 28.9, p < 0.001) and total fat (23.4 vs 28.9, p < 0.001) were lower in SSc patients compared to HC. VAI was similar when BMI < 25, but significantly higher when BMI > 25 in SSc than in HC (3 vs 1.9, p = 0.030). The increase in BMI at overweight or obese in SSc is associated with a significant increase in cardiovascular risk.

In-hospital mortality and associated factors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: analysis over more than 11 years in a reference hospital center.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease that affects the immune system, and it can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. The primary causes of mortality for individuals with SLE are disease activity, infections, drug toxicity, and other health conditions. The aim of this study is to estimate the mortality rate of patients with SLE who are hospitalized, describe the causes of death, and identify factors associated with mortality. The study was conducted at a referral hospital from 2009 to 2021, utilizing a nested case-control design. The records of patients with SLE who were hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology were reviewed. Cases were identified as individuals who died during their hospitalization, while controls were those who were discharged alive during the same period. Elective hospitalizations were not included in the study. The primary causes of death were recorded, and demographic, clinical, laboratory, and immunological variables were analyzed as potential risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality. The study included 105 patients who died while hospitalized and 336 who were discharged alive. The estimated mortality rate was 10.93 deaths per 1000 hospital admissions per year. The leading causes of death were SLE activity (20%), infections (34.2%), or a combination of both (24.8%). Risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality were any infection (OR 2.5, CI 95% 1.2-5.2), nosocomial infections (OR 5.0, CI 95% 1.8-13.7), SLEDAI-2K > 2 (OR 2.0, CI 95% 1.02-3.8), lymphopenia (OR 2.1, CI 95% 1.01-4.6), anemia (OR 2.9, CI 95% 1.4-5.7), and thrombocytopenia (OR 3.3, CI 95% 1.7-6.4). Disease activity and infections, particularly nosocomial infections, are significant causes of mortality in hospitalized patients with SLE. Furthermore, hematological manifestations play a significant role in in-hospital mortality for these patients.