Endocan Levels and Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients With Sarcoidosis. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aciksari, Gonul; Kavas, Murat; Atici, Adem; Kul, Seref; Erman, Hayriye; Yilmaz, Yusuf; Demircioglu, Kenan; Yalcinkaya, Emre; Kanbay, Asiye; Caliskan, Mustafa
• Is Part Of: Angiology. Volume 69:Number 10(2018)
• Page Start: 878
• Page End: 883
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: endocan -- sarcoidosis -- endothelial dysfunction -- atherosclerosis; Blood-vessels -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.13005
• DOI: 10.1177/0003319718775283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-3197

Abstract

A systemic inflammatory reaction is a common feature of both sarcoidosis and atherosclerosis. Endothelial-cell specific molecule 1 (endocan) is a marker of vascular pathology which also shows a correlation with inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the vascular involvement in sarcoidosis using serum endocan levels and brachial artery flow–mediated dilation (FMD), a marker of endothelial dysfunction. We included 53 patients with sarcoidosis without conventional cardiovascular risk factors and 40 healthy controls. Endothelial function was assessed using FMD. Endocan concentrations were measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassay. Patients with sarcoidosis had significantly higher endocan levels (306 [68] ng/mL vs 269 [73] ng/mL; P = .039) and lower FMD (2.7% [2.3%-3.2%] vs 8% [5%-13%]; P < .001) compared with the healthy group. A negative correlation was found between endocan levels and FMD in the sarcoidosis group ( r = −.325, P < .007). We conclude that sarcoidosis is associated with high levels of endocan and lower FMD values, which may indicate endothelial dysfunction and an early stage of atherosclerosis.