Arterial stiffness is associated with left ventricular dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Arterial stiffness (AS) has a detrimental effect on cardiovascular system particularly on left ventricle (LV). The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of AS on LV functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Forty patients with RA and 25 age-sex matched control subjects (mean age 48.5 ± 6.3 vs. 45.1 ± 6.9 years, respectively, p = 0.06) were enrolled in study. AS was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) and heart rate corrected augmentation index (AIx@75) measured by applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor). LV function was evaluated using tissue Doppler-derived myocardial performance index (MPI) from lateral mitral annulus. CF-PWV (28.3 ± 10.3 vs. 21.8 ± 9.3 m/s, p = 0.03), AIx@75 (10.2 ± 2.3 vs. 9.2 ± 1, %, p = 0.01) and MPI (0.46 ± 0.12 vs. 0.36 ± 0.1, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with RA than in controls. LV MPI was found to be significantly positive correlated with CF-PWV, AIx@75, and ESR (r = 0.360, p = 0.005; r = 0.334, p = 0.009; r = 0.293, p = 0.023, respectively). Arterial stiffness parameters including CF-PWV and AIx@75 are associated with subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with RA.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of femoral cartilage thickness in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a common form of arthritis that may vary from asymmetric oligoarthritis to symmetric polyarthritis and spondyloarthritis. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate femoral cartilage thickness using ultrasonography in patients with PsA. METHODS: Thirty-three patients (24 female, 9 male) with a diagnosis of PsA and 31 age-, sex- and body mass index-similar healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded, including disease duration, morning stiffness and medications. The femoral cartilage thicknesses of both knees (while held in maximum flexion) were measured with a 7-12 MHz linear probe. Three mid-point measurements were taken from both knees (at the lateral condyle, intercondylar area and medial condyle). RESULTS: Cartilage thicknesses were similar between PsA patients and healthy control subjects. However, there were significant correlations between cartilage thickness and the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score, Bath AS functional index and Bath AS disease activity index scores. CONCLUSION: Femoral cartilage thickness is similar between PsA patients and healthy controls. The femoral cartilage thickness in PsA patients is associated with disease activity, functional inadequacy, and enthesopathy scores.

Evaluation of choroidal thickness in ankylosing spondylitis using optical coherence tomography.

UNLABELLED: Abstract Purpose: To investigate posterior segment (PS) findings in the eye in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Eighty-four patients with AS and 63 healthy controls were enrolled. PS evaluations were performed using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Foveal thickness, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, macular volume, ganglion cell complex, and choroidal thickness (CT) values were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Mean CT was higher in patients with AS (326.5 ± 71.5 µm) than in the healthy controls (286.2 ± 59.5 µm) (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between patients with AS and the healthy control group in terms of other OCT parameters. There was also no significant correlation between CT, AS activity index, and disease duration. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate effects of AS on CT. CT was high in patients with AS compared to healthy controls.