Relationship between endothelial dysfunction, videocapillaroscopy and circulating CD3+CD31+CXCR4+ lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus without cardiovascular risk factors. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cavazzana, I; Piantoni, S; Sciatti, E; Fredi, M; Taraborelli, M; Bonadei, I; Airò, P; Metra, M; Tincani, A; Franceschini, F; Vizzardi, E
• Is Part Of: Lupus. Volume 28:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 210
• Page End: 216
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Anti-DNA antibodies -- cardiovascular disease -- systemic lupus erythematosus; Systemic lupus erythematosus -- Periodicals; 616.772005
• DOI: 10.1177/0961203318821161
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-2033

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this paper is to analyse whether digital capillary morphology, analysed by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC), and the number of circulating CD3 + CD31 + CXCR4 + lymphocytes (angiogenic T cells) could be markers of endothelial dysfunction (ED) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CV risk factors. Methods: Nineteen consecutive SLE patients, according to Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Classification Criteria, with a disease duration less than five years, low disease activity, without CVD and CV risk factors (diabetes, chronic renal disease, uncontrolled systemic arterial hypertension, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, obesity), statin or beta-blocker use were enrolled. Each patient and sex- and age-matched healthy control (HC) underwent Doppler echocardiogram, an endothelial function study by peripheral arterial tonometry technique, NVC and peripheral blood immunophenotyping. Results: SLE ED+ more frequently showed NVC abnormalities compared with HCs ( p < 0.0001) in terms of minor alterations ( p = 0.017), lower capillary numbers ( p = 0.0035) and major alterations. SLE ED + showed a higher rate of CD3 + CD31 + CXCR4 + lymphocytes compared with SLE ED– and with HCs. NVC + SLE showed a significantly reduced rate of total CD3 + cells, but a higher rate and absolute number of CD3 + CD31 + CXCR4 + , compared with NVC– SLE. Conclusion: NVC alterations are frequent in SLE without any CV risk factors and CVD. They are associated with ED and increased circulating CD3 + CD31 + CXCR4 + lymphocytes. These findings demonstrate a clear microvascular perturbation in patients with short disease duration, low disease activity and no CV risk factors.