ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

Abstract Number: 1038

Assessment of Aortic Stiffness by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Galia Karp1, Arik Wolak2, Nina Baram3, Victor Novack4, Philip Rosen3, Yael Perl5, Talia Wolak6, Ilan Shelef3 and Mahmoud Abu-Shakra7, 1Medicine and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Soroka Medical Centre and Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel, 2Cardiology and and MRI Unit, Dept. of Cardiology, Cardiac MRI unit, Soroka University Medical Center, and Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel, 3Radiology division, Soroka University Medical Center and Ben Gurion University, Radiology division, Soroka University Medical Center and Ben Gurion University, 4Department of Medicine and Clinical Research center, Department of Medicine, Clinical Research center, Soroka University Medical Center and Ben Gurion University, 5Department of Medicine and Clinical Research center, Clinical Research center, Soroka University Medical Center and Ben Gurion University, 6Department of Medicine and Hypertension unit, Soroka University Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University, Department of Medicine and Hypertension unit, Soroka University Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University, 7Medicine and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Soroka Medical Centre and Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Meeting: 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Keywords: ,

Session Information

Title: Imaging of Rheumatic Diseases: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomography and X-ray

Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)

Background/Purpose:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are known to cause premature arterial aging and early atherosclerosis hence leading to increased stiffness of the large arteries. Recently, Cardiac MRI (CMRI) was introduced as a new technique for assessment of aortic stiffness by measuring the Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV). Therefore, we aimed to assess aortic stiffness by CMRI in RA and SLE patients.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 25 RA female patients, 26 SLE female patients and adjusted controls that matched each patient for age, comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia) and smoking status. Clinical and laboratory data were gathered. CMRI was performed using a 1.5T scanner and included phase contrast images of the ascending and descending aorta. Dedicated cardiovascular analysis software was used to measure the flow at the level of the ascending and the descending aorta. The distance between these 2 levels was obtained and PWV was calculated accordingly

Results:

The mean age of RA patients and their healthy control group was 51.83±15.14 and 51.33±14.47 respectively. Systolic Blood pressure was higher amongst RA patients, 132.61±15.16 mmHg versus 121.72±20.55 mmHg for controls (p=0.02). PWV was higher among the RA group; 9.11±3.96 for RA and 7.79±2.98 for the control group (p=0.13). SLE patients were younger than RA patients, averaging 41.31±13.51. SLE patients were heavier and had larger waist circumference than their controls. Their Framingham score was slightly lower than their paired controls. PWV was higher than their paired controls, 6.67±2.39 vs. 6.03±2.23 (p=0.02), thus reaching statistical significance. We further found positive correlation between SLE disease activity and PWV (p=0.02). This correlation was not found among RA patients.

Conclusion:

PWV is higher amongst SLE patients, as opposed to healthy controls (p=0.02). In addition PWV is positively correlated with SLE disease activity (p=0.02). Amongst RA patients, PWV was higher as opposed to paired controls, but this failed to achieve statistical significance. Our data raise the hypothesis that amongst SLE patients, who are known to have significantly higher levels of atherosclerosis, PWV may serve a marker for cardiovascular morbidity.

Disclosure:

G. Karp,
None;

A. Wolak,
None;

N. Baram,
None;

V. Novack,
None;

P. Rosen,
None;

Y. Perl,
None;

T. Wolak,
None;

I. Shelef,
None;

M. Abu-Shakra,
None.

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