State of the Art Management of Aortic Valve Disease in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and the risk of valvular heart disease: a Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Observational studies have suggested that immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are associated with a higher risk of valvular heart disease (VHD). But the potential causal association is not clear. Therefore, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the causal association of IMIDs with VHD risk.

METHODS

A two-sample MR analysis was performed to confirm the causal association of several common IMIDs (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE; rheumatoid arthritis, RA; multiple sclerosis, MS; ankylosing spondylitis, AS; psoriasis, PSO; inflammatory bowel disease, IBD) with the risk of VHD. The exposure data is derived from published genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and outcome data come from the FinnGen database (47,003 cases and 182,971 controls). Inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median methods were performed to assess the causal association. The study design applied univariable MR and multivariable MR.

RESULTS

The MR analysis indicated that several genetically predicted IMIDs increased the risk of VHD, including SLE (odds ratio (OR) = 1.014; 95% confidence interval (CI) =  < 1.001,1.028 > ; p = 0.036), RA (OR = 1.017; 95% CI =  < 1.002,1.031 > ; p = 0.025), and IBD (OR = 1.018; 95% CI =  < 1.002,1.033 > ; p = 0.023). Multivariable MR indicated that the adverse effect of these IMIDs on VHD was dampened to varying degrees after adjusting for smoking, obesity, coronary artery disease, and hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support the first genetic evidence of the causality of genetically predicted IMIDs with the risk of developing into VHD. Our results deliver a viewpoint that further active intervention needs to be explored to mitigate VHD risk in patients with SLE, RA, and IBD. Key Points • Genetically predicted systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are causally associated with valvular heart disease (VHD). • To reduce the risk of VHD in patients with SLE, RA, and IBD, active interventions should be further explored.

Cardiovascular risk in axial spondyloarthritis-a systematic review

Cardiovascular manifestations are common in patients suffering axial spondyloarthritis and can result in substantial morbidity and disease burden. To give an overview of this important aspect of axial spondyloarthritis, we conducted a systematic literature search of all articles published between January 2000 and 25 May 2023 on cardiovascular manifestations. Using PubMed and SCOPUS, 123 out of 6792 articles were identified and included in this review. Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis seems to be underrepresented in studies; thus, more evidence for ankylosing spondylitis exists. All in all, we found some traditional risk factors that led to higher cardiovascular disease burden or major cardiovascular events. These specific risk factors seem to be more aggressive in patients with spondyloarthropathies and have a strong connection to high or long-standing disease activity. Since disease activity is a major driver of morbidity, diagnostic, therapeutic, and lifestyle interventions are crucial for better outcomes. Key Points • Several studies on axial spondyloarthritis and associated cardiovascular diseases have been conducted in the last few years addressing risk stratification of these patients including artificial intelligence. • Recent data suggest distinct manifestations of cardiovascular disease entities among men and women which the treating physician needs to be aware of. • Rheumatologists need to screen axial spondyloarthritis patients for emerging cardiovascular disease and should aim at reducing traditional risk factors like hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and smoking as well as disease activity.

Prognostic impact of new permanent pacemaker implantation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement

BACKGROUND

Conduction disturbances requiring permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) are common following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). There were conflicting data regarding the impact of new PPI on clinical outcomes after TAVR.

OBJECTIVES

The study sought to evaluate the impact of new PPI on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TAVR.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Data were from 210 consecutive patients without prior PPI who underwent TAVR due to severe symptomatic aortic stenosis at our center between June 2018 and July 2020. Clinical, echocardiographic, and pacing data were assessed at 30-day, 1- and 2-year follow-up.

RESULTS

New PPI was required in 35 (16.7%) patients within 30 days after TAVR. The median time from TAVR to PPI was 3 days. The most common indication for PPI was high-degree or complete atrioventricular block. The median follow-up was 798.0 (interquartile range, 669.0-1115.0) days. There were no differences in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85-2.36; p = 0.415) and cardiovascular mortality (adjusted HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.57-1.89; p = 0.609) between groups. However, PPI group had a higher risk of heart failure (HF) rehospitalization (adjusted HR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.26-2.28; p = 0.027). Echocardiography showed no significant improvement of LVEF over time in patients with PPI. At the latest follow-up, 31.3% of patients exhibited low (≤10%) pacing burdens, whereas 28.1% of patients had near constant (>90%) right ventricular pacing.

CONCLUSIONS

New PPI within 30 days following TAVR was not associated with an increased risk of all-cause or cardiovascular mortality. However, patients with PPI had a higher risk of HF rehospitalization and lack of LVEF improvement.

A brief human history of ankylosing spondylitis: A scoping review of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment

Background

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory disease of the spine and SI joints. Diagnostic criteria and treatments have continued to evolve, necessitating a historical compendium of AS and its management. This paper aims to review the historical context underlying the discovery of AS, as well as the major diagnostic and therapeutic discoveries in the last two centuries.

Methods

A scoping review of the literature pertaining to AS was performed via the Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Future directions of AS treatments were assessed by querying the clinicaltrials.gov website.

Results

The history of AS can be traced as far back as ancient Egypt (as evidenced by the discovery of its presence in ancient Egyptian mummies) to the late 20th century, when the inherited nature of AS was linked to a genetic factor, HLA-B27. Each discovery made throughout the years led to further investigations into the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AS. The criteria to differentiate AS from rheumatoid arthritis were first reported in 1893. Since then, diagnostic criteria for AS have undergone a series of changes before the present-day diagnostic criteria for AS were ultimately determined in 2009 by the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society.

Conclusion

As the pathophysiology of AS is better understood, healthcare providers are able to diagnose and treat the condition more effectively. In particular, earlier diagnosis and multiple treatment options have facilitated efficient and more effective treatment.

Multimodality Evaluation of Aortic Insufficiency and Aortitis in Rheumatologic Diseases

Aortic insufficiency is commonly observed in rheumatologic diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, Behçet's disease, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and Takayasu arteritis. Aortic insufficiency with an underlying rheumatologic disease may be caused by a primary valve pathology (leaflet destruction, prolapse or restriction), annular dilatation due to associated aortitis or a combination of both. Early recognition of characteristic valve and aorta morphology on cardiac imaging has both diagnostic and prognostic importance. Currently, echocardiography remains the primary diagnostic tool for aortic insufficiency. Complementary use of computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography in these systemic conditions may augment the assessment of underlying mechanism, disease severity and identification of relevant non-valvular/extracardiac pathology. We aim to review common rheumatologic diseases associated with aortic insufficiency and describe their imaging findings that have been reported in the literature.

Systemic immune-inflammation index is associated with disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background

The systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII) is a recently developed indicator for systemic inflammatory response. We aimed to explore the association between SII and disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods

This retrospective study included 136 patients with AS and 63 healthy controls. Patients were divided into two groups according to Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI); active group (n = 60) and remission group (n = 76). Clinical, laboratory, and demographic characteristics were recorded. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to determine correlations of SII with C‐reactive protein (CRP) level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and BASDAI in AS patients. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for AS disease activity. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of SII and the above variables for the active group compared with the remission group.

Results

Systemic immune‐inflammation index levels were higher in AS patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). SII levels were higher in the active group than in the remission group (p < 0.001). For patients with AS, SII correlated positively with CRP (r_s = 0.483, p < 0.001), ESR (r_s = 0.374, p < 0.001), and BASDAI (r_s = 0.667, p < 0.001). SII (OR = 1.009, 95% CI = 1.006–1.012, p < 0.001) was an independent risk factor affecting AS disease activity. The specificity and sensitivity of SII using a cutoff value of 513.2 were 83.33% and 86.84%, respectively, for the active group.

Conclusion

Systemic immune‐inflammation index was increased in AS. SII may be a novel indicator for monitoring AS disease activity.