Anti-vinculin antibodies as a novel biomarker in Egyptian patients with systemic sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder that causes vasculopathy and scarring, most commonly in the lungs and skin, but it can also affect other organs. Endothelial vinculin plays a critical role in angiogenesis regulation. Therefore, vinculin overexpression in SSc may give rise to anti-vinculin antibodies, which may contribute to the development of SSc vasculopathy. The current research aims to (1) determine whether anti-vinculin autoantibodies play a significant role in the diagnosis of SSc and (2) compare anti-vinculin serum levels between two scleroderma patient populations, namely, pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH)-predominant and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)-predominant groups. METHODS: This research included 140 participants categorized into three groups: group I-patients with PAH-predominant; group II-patients with ILD-predominant; group III-the control group. Anti-vinculin antibodies were detected in serum samples collected from all participants using ELISA. All subjects underwent high-resolution computed tomography (CT), diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, and pulmonary function tests. RESULTS: Patients in group I (PAH-predominant group, N = 35) were 41.3 [± 11.4] years old, with 80% being women. Patients in group II (ILD-predominant group, N = 35) were 41.0 [± 11.5] years old. The SSc group showed significantly higher anti-vinculin antibody levels than the control group (P < 0.001). The PAH-predominant group demonstrated significantly higher anti-vinculin antibody levels and anti-vinculin positivity than the ILD-predominant group. CONCLUSION: Anti-vinculin antibodies in the blood appear to be diagnostic biomarkers for scleroderma. Furthermore, they shed light on some novel perspectives on the pathophysiology of specific lung fibrotic changes. Key Points • This study included two groups of systemic sclerosis patients (PAH-predominant group, ILD-predominant group) as well as a control group to investigate the significance of anti-vinculin antibodies in such cases. • Our results have demonstrated that anti-vinculin antibodies can play a significant role in diagnosing and monitoring systemic sclerosis disease.

The predictive value of speckle tracking during dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with chronic stable angina.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the diagnostic value of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) at rest and during dobutamine stress in predicting the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with chronic stable angina. METHODS: A total of 100 patients with chronic stable angina were evaluated using STE at rest and during dobutamine stress to detect the presence, severity, and number of affected coronary arteries. Then, the correlation with the SYNTAX score (SS) was analyzed. RESULTS: STE at stress showed better agreement with coronary angiography (CA) than dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in detecting the presence of coronary artery stenosis (Kappa = 0.819, p < 0.001). STE at stress suggested involvement of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) with excellent agreement with CA (Kappa = 0.816, p < 0.001). For right coronary artery, STE at rest and stress showed good agreement with the CA results (Kappa = 0.775 and 0.858, respectively, p < 0.001), whereas for left circumflex artery, STE at rest and stress showed a fair agreement with the CA results (Kappa = 0.556 and 0.583, respectively, p < 0.001). Resting global longitudinal peak systolic strain (GLPSS) ≥ -15.2% had the best diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity = 61.8%; specificity = 93.5%) in predicting SS > 22. Stress GLPSS ≥ -12.5% had the best diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity = 82.4%; specificity = 78.3%) in predicting SS > 22. CONCLUSION: Speckle tracking during DSE has high sensitivity and specificity for predicting the presence of CAD. It provides quantitative diagnostic information that decreases the false positive and false negative results of DSE.

Echocardiographic predictors of atrial fibrillation after mitral valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: Detection of the echocardiographic predictors of post-operative atrial fibrillation in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease undergoing mitral valve replacement. METHODS: The study included 50 patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease undergoing mitral valve replacement. Preoperative assessment included standard two-dimensional echocardiography to assess LA diameter, volume, and emptying fraction, LV volume and ejection fraction. TDI derived velocity, strain of the left atrium and speckle tracking to assess left ventricular function then postoperative follow up for 1 month for occurrence of atrial fibrillation. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative AF was 44%; these patients were significantly older (P = 0.001) and show higher prevalence of DM (P = 0.001) and HTN (P = 0.001). Also, LA diameters (antero-posterior, transverse and longitudinal) and LA volumes (maximal and minimal) were increased (P < 0.001), but no difference in LA emptying fraction (P > 0.05). Systolic LA strain and left ventricular global longitudinal strain were significantly reduced in those patients (P value <0.001). Echocardiographic predictors of AF were LA systolic strain (P value <0.001) and LV global longitudinal strain (P value = 0.003). Cutoff value for systolic LA strain ≤23 had sensitivity 90.91% and specificity 93.33% in predicting POAF. While, left ventricular global longitudinal strain ≤-14.9% had sensitivity 63.6% and specificity 100.0% in predicting AF. CONCLUSION: LA systolic strain and LV global longitudinal strain were significant predictors of POAF. Echocardiographic parameters can identify patients at greater risk of developing POAF who can benefit from preventive measure and guide the selection of prosthesis.