Markers of cardiovascular risk in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome: A meta-analysis of literature studies. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ambrosino, Pasquale; Lupoli, Roberta; Di Minno, Alessandro; Iervolino, Salvatore; Peluso, Rosario; Di Minno, Matteo Nicola Dario
• Is Part Of: Annals of medicine. Volume 46:Number 8(2014)
• Page Start: 693
• Page End: 702
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.3109/07853890.2014.959559
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0785-3890

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Several studies reported on the association between antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and venous thrombosis. In contrast, little is known about cardiovascular (CV) risk in APS. We performed a meta-analysis on the impact of APS on major markers of CV risk.</p> <p>Studies on the relationship between APS and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), internal carotid artery IMT (ICA-IMT), carotid bifurcation IMT (BIF-IMT), prevalence of carotid plaques, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitrate-mediated dilation (NMD), and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were systematically searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE databases. Twenty case-control studies (668 cases, 678 controls) were included. Compared to controls, APS patients showed a higher CCA-IMT (mean difference [MD] 0.11 mm; 95% CI 0.07, 0.14), ICA-IMT (MD 0.08 mm; 95% CI 0.05, 0.11), BIF-IMT (MD 0.09 mm; 95% CI 0.06, 0.12) and a higher frequency of carotid plaques (OR 3.87; 95% CI 1.61, 9.31). Moreover, a lower FMD was found in APS subjects than in controls (MD –4.49%; 95% CI –6.20, –2.78), with no differences in NMD (MD –1.80%; 95% CI –4.01, 0.42). Finally, an increased prevalence of pathological ABI was found in APS patients compared to controls (OR 7.26; 95% CI 1.77, 29.71).</p> <p>Despite heterogeneity among studies, APS appears significantly associated with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis and CV risk. These findings can be useful to plan adequate prevention strategies and therapeutic approaches.</p> </abstract>