Cardiovascular disease in patients with spondyloarthropathies

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: a clinical consensus document by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) involve multiple organs including the heart and vasculature. Despite novel treatments, patients with ARDs still experience a reduced life expectancy, partly caused by the higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This includes CV inflammation, rhythm disturbances, perfusion abnormalities (ischaemia/infarction), dysregulation of vasoreactivity, myocardial fibrosis, coagulation abnormalities, pulmonary hypertension, valvular disease, and side-effects of immunomodulatory therapy. Currently, the evaluation of CV involvement in patients with ARDs is based on the assessment of cardiac symptoms, coupled with electrocardiography, blood testing, and echocardiography. However, CVD may not become overt until late in the course of the disease, thus potentially limiting the therapeutic window for intervention. More recently, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has allowed for the early identification of pathophysiologic structural/functional alterations that take place before the onset of clinically overt CVD. CMR allows for detailed evaluation of biventricular function together with tissue characterization of vessels/myocardium in the same examination, yielding a reliable assessment of disease activity that might not be mirrored by blood biomarkers and other imaging modalities. Therefore, CMR provides diagnostic information that enables timely clinical decision-making and facilitates the tailoring of treatment to individual patients. Here we review the role of CMR in the early and accurate diagnosis of CVD in patients with ARDs compared with other non-invasive imaging modalities. Furthermore, we present a consensus-based decision algorithm for when a CMR study could be considered in patients with ARDs, together with a standardized study protocol. Lastly, we discuss the clinical implications of findings from a CMR examination.

Activated coagulation is associated with the disease activity of axial spondyloarthritis

BACKGROUND

Activation of the coagulation system has been related to disease activity in some inflammatory diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate the relationship between coagulation function and the disease activity of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

METHODS

This study retrospectively recruited 144 axSpA patients and 55 healthy controls. The patients were divided into an active group (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, BASDAI ≥ 4) and a remission group (BASDAI < 4). The coagulation, inflammatory and clinical parameters were detected. The correlations between these parameters were analyzed with Spearman's correlation analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to compare the values of these variables in discriminating disease activity. Furthermore, binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk factors for axSpA disease activity.

RESULTS

Fibrinogen (FIB) was increased in the axSpA group compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001). Additionally, FIB and D-dimer were higher in the active group than in the remission group (P < 0.05, respectively). FIB and D-dimer were positively correlated with ESR, CRP, BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) (P < 0.05, respectively). The area under the curve (AUC) of FIB was higher than that of ESR, CRP and D-dimer. The optimal cut-off value of FIB was 3.23 g/L, with a specificity of 62.0% and sensitivity of 75.0%. FIB (OR = 4.335, 95% CI: 1.262-14.888, P = 0.020) and BASFI score (OR = 1.878, 95% CI: 1.441-2.448, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors affecting disease activity.

CONCLUSION

Activated coagulation is closely related to the disease activity of axSpA. FIB and D-dimer might be novel indicators for monitoring the disease activity of axSpA.

Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis Have Increased Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Mortality: A Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis affecting the spine in young adults. It is associated with excess cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether patients with AS are at increased risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality.

DESIGN

Population-based retrospective cohort study using administrative health data.

SETTING

Ontario, Canada.

PATIENTS

21 473 patients with AS aged 15 years or older and 86 606 comparators without AS, matched for age, sex, and location of residence.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular death. Hazard ratios (HRs) for vascular death were calculated; adjusted for history of cancer, diabetes, dementia, inflammatory bowel disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral vascular disease; and, among those aged 66 years or older, relevant drug therapies. Independent risk factors for vascular mortality were identified in patients with AS.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients with AS was 46 years, and 53% were male. Patients and comparators were followed for 166 920 and 686 461 patient-years, respectively. Adjusted HRs for vascular death in AS were 1.36 (95% CI, 1.13 to 1.65) overall, 1.46 (CI, 1.13 to 1.87) in men, and 1.24 (CI, 0.92 to 1.67) in women. Significant risk factors for vascular death were age; male sex; lower income; dementia; chronic kidney disease; peripheral vascular disease; and, among patients aged 65 years or older, lack of exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and statins.

LIMITATION

Diagnosis codes for AS were not validated in Ontario.

CONCLUSION

Ankylosing spondylitis is associated with increased risk for vascular mortality. A comprehensive strategy to screen and treat modifiable vascular risk factors in AS is needed.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

The Arthritis Program, University Health Network, Toronto; and The Arthritis Society, Canada.

Color Doppler Imaging of the Orbital Vessels in Ankylosing Spondylitis

PURPOSE

To analyze the hemodynamic features of orbital blood flow velocities using Doppler ultrasonography in ankylosing spondiylitis (AS) patients, as well as to compare these results with those of healthy controls.

METHODS

33 AS patients and 32 healthy controls were consecutively included in the study groups. The same radiologist performed ocular blood flow measurements. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistive index (RI) were measured in the central retinal artery (CRA), posterior ciliary arteries (PCAs), and ophthalmic artery (OA). Resistive index was used to assess arterial resistance; it was automatically calculated as RI [(PSV-EDV)/PSV].

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the PSV, EDV, and RI of the OA, CRA, and PCAs between AS patients and controls.

CONCLUSION

This result suggests no possible contributory role of vascular structures in formation of uveitis in AS. We believe that our preliminary results need to be complemented with further studies, particularly including AS patients with uveitis and rheumatic diseases with other ocular involvement.

The effects of undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function

BACKGROUND

Recent studies report that cardiovascular mortality is more common in patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA) compared with the normal population. In this study, we aimed to determine left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) in addition to conventional methods in undifferentiated SpA (uSpA) patients.

METHODS

A total of 45 patients and 44 age and sex matched healthy controls participated in the present study. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions were assessed with two dimensional (2D) echocardiography, M-mode echocardiography, pulsed-wave (PW) echocardiography and tissue Doppler echocardiography. The peak systolic velocity (Sm), early diastolic myocardial peak velocity (Em), and late diastolic myocardial peak velocity (Am), myocardial isovolumetric contraction time (IVCTm), myocardial ejection time (ETm), myocardial isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRTm) and myocardial performance index (MPI) were measured at septal and lateral mitral annulus.

RESULTS

Left ventricular diastolic inflow velocities showed that isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) and deceleration time (DT) were significantly longer in the uSpA group. Left ventricular lateral wall PW tissue Doppler echocardiography showed that Em was significantly lower in uSpA group. Septal PW tissue Doppler echocardiography showed that Em was lower and IVRT was longer in the uSpA group compared with healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

In this study we determined that left ventricular systolic function is preserved in patients with uSpA. Although frequency of diastolic dysfunction was similar in both groups, deterioration of some diastolic parameters in the uSpA group might be considered for possible cardiac involvement in patients with uSpA.

No significant changes in arterial stiffness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis after tumour necrosis factor alpha blockade treatment for 6 and 12 months

OBJECTIVE

The increased cardiovascular risk associated with AS is attributable to multiple factors: disease activity, systemic inflammation, traditional risk factors and NSAIDs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 24 and 52 weeks of TNF-α inhibitor treatment on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODS

Arterial stiffness was measured using the augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), while other cardiovascular risk factors [lipid profile, blood pressure (BP) and BMI] were collected for active AS patients.

RESULTS

In total, 49 patients, comprising 30 men, were included in the study, with a mean age of 46.9 (12.1) years. Of these, 20 (40.8%) patients were current smokers, while 10 were treated for hypertension. Patients had long-standing [11.9 (9.2) years] and active AS, with a high initial BASDAI [55.0 (18.2)]. Regarding treatment, 26 patients received etanercept, 17 adalimumab and 6 infliximab. No changes were observed in PWV and AIx after 6 or 12 months following TNF-α blockade [PWV 6.97 (2.03) m/s, 6.92 (1.81) m/s and 7.10 (1.95) m/s at baseline, 6 months and 1 year, respectively, P = 0.64; AIx 19.5 (13.1%), 20.2 (12.8%), 18.3 (13.5%), respectively, P = 0.87]. Lipid profiles and other cardiovascular risk factors were unchanged. However, BASDAI, BASFI and biological inflammation were significantly improved.

CONCLUSION

Arterial stiffness was not improved after 6 and 12 months of anti-TNF-α therapy. However, treatment decreased biological inflammation and disease activity without causing any changes in lipid profiles and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Increased production of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in ankylosing spondylitis: association with other clinical and laboratory parameters

OBJECTIVE

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has been associated with atherosclerosis, vascular diseases and, recently, also with arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS

Serum ADMA, arginine and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) levels were assessed by liquid chromatography in 61 AS and 26 osteoarthritis (OA) patients with no known cardiovascular disease.

RESULTS

Serum ADMA levels were significantly increased in AS compared to OA patients (0.95 ± 0.17 μM versus 0.70 ± 0.25 μM; p < 0.001). There were no differences in serum arginine and SDMA levels. Serum ADMA levels also positively correlated with age (R = 0.258; p = 0.043), body mass index (R = 0.368; p = 0.003), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (R = 0.329; p = 0.009) and ADMA levels negative correlated with chest expansion (R = -0.251; p = 0.04). No correlations were found between ADMA levels and disease duration, pain intensity, BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, quality of life, CRP, HLA-B27 positivity, endothelial dysfunction or carotid atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSION

ADMA may serve as a marker of systemic inflammation and may reflect functional immobility in AS. Further studies are needed to assess the possible role of ADMA in AS and AS-related vascular disease.

Ankylosing spondylitis in a patient referred to physical therapy with low back pain

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common and costly medical conditions in the United States; various studies have reported up to 80% of the adult population will experience a significant episode of LBP sometime within their lifetime. Although many cases of LBP are related to the musculoskeletal system and appropriate for the care of the physical therapist (PT), some episodes of LBP have a systemic cause. Thus, it is the role of the PT to ensure each patient is appropriate for physical therapy intervention throughout the episode of care. When the patient's condition is not appropriate for physical therapy intervention, it is the PT's responsibility to refer the patient to other medical professions to ensure optimal patient care. The purpose of this case report is to describe a patient referred to PT who was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. The patient presented initially to physical therapy with a diagnosis of LBP. However, after several visits her symptoms were inconsistent with mechanical LBP and thus required further medical consultation.

Mortality in spondylarthritis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease that can lead to chronic pain in axial and peripheral joints and to functional impairments after several years. Excess mortality has been reported in patients with AS. We reviewed recent studies of patients with AS who were treated and monitored according to the improved methods developed in the past few years, without radiation therapy. Our results do not support excess mortality in these patients. Long-term follow-up data from patients enrolled in biologics registries will provide additional information. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with AS, as in the general population. However, the cardiovascular mortality rate may be slightly increased in patients with AS, probably as a result of dyslipidemia and early endothelial dysfunction. Similarly, and as expected, there is excess mortality related to the spinal disease itself and to renal and gastrointestinal disease. More surprisingly, alcohol abuse and injury or suicide cause excess mortality compared to the general population. In the absence of radiation or radium-224 therapy, and regardless of the other treatments used, the evidence does not support an increased rate of lymphoma or other malignancies compared to the general population. In this review, we discuss the causes and rates of mortality in patients with AS.

Protocol for a population-based ankylosing spondylitis (PAS) cohort in Wales

Background

To develop a population-based cohort of people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Wales using (1) secondary care clinical datasets, (2) patient-derived questionnaire data and (3) routinely-collected information in order to examine disease history and the health economic cost of AS.

Methods

This data model will include and link (1) secondary care clinician datasets (i.e. electronic patient notes from the rheumatologist) (2) patient completed questionnaires (giving information on disease activity, medication, function, quality of life, work limitations and health service utilisation) and (3) a broad range of routinely collected data (including; GP records, in-patient hospital admission data, emergency department data, laboratory/pathology data and social services databases). The protocol involves the use of a unique and powerful data linkage system which allows datasets to be interlinked and to complement each other.

Discussion

This cohort can integrate patient supplied, primary and secondary care data into a unified data model. This can be used to study a range of issues such as; the true economic costs to the health care system and the patient, factors associated with the development of severe disease, long term adverse events of new and existing medication and to understand the disease history of this condition. It will benefit patients, clinicians and health care managers. This study forms a pilot project for the use of routine data/patient data linked cohorts for other chronic conditions.

Spondyloarthropathies: an independent cardiovascular risk factor?

An increase in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity has been convincingly documented in rheumatoid arthritis. Data on spondyloarthropathies are more limited. Here, we discuss published studies indicating that patients with spondyloarthropathies are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The excess risk is probably multifactorial, being related both to chronic systemic inflammation and to high prevalences of conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Cardiovascular risk management in patients with spondyloarthropathies requires optimal control of disease activity combined with interventions targeting conventional cardiovascular risk factors.

Effects of 14 weeks of TNF alpha blockade treatment on lipid profile in ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality seem to be increased in ankylosing spondylitis, perhaps as the result of biological inflammation and consecutive dyslipidemia. This study aims to investigate the impact of TNF alpha-inhibitors, an effective treatment, on lipid profile.

METHODS

Thirty-four ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with active disease undergoing anti-TNF alpha therapy (n=20, infliximab; n=7, etanercept; n=7, adalimumab) were recruited. Disease activity parameters, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were assessed at baseline and after 14 weeks of treatment.

RESULTS

After 14 weeks of TNF alpha blockade treatment, there was a significant increase in levels of total cholesterol (5.08+/-1.20 vs. 4.73+/-1.12 mmol/l; p=0.01) and HDL-cholesterol (1.61+/-0.47 vs. 1.47+/-0.35 mmol/l; p=0.008), but no resulting change in the atherogenic index (3.43+/-1.13 vs. 3.35+/-0.93; p=0.87). There was also no change in concentrations of triglycerides (1.33+/-1.22 vs. 1.27+/-0.98 mmol/l; p=0.794) and LDL-cholesterol (3.15+/-0.99 vs. 2.91+/-0.93 mmol/l; p=0.24). TNF alpha inhibitor treatment was followed by a significant improvement in all disease activity parameters: VAS pain or VAS disease activity, BASDAI or BASFI and systemic inflammation. Sub-group analysis showed that monoclonal antibodies increased total and LDL-cholesterol levels but did not change the atherogenic index. Conversely, 14 weeks of etanercept treatment was followed by no change in lipid profile.

CONCLUSION

TNF alpha inhibitors may be successful in reducing cardiovascular risk in AS, as in RA, but not by affecting lipid profile. However, there is insufficient documented evidence, and long-term investigations are needed to define the possible protective mechanisms of TNFalpha inhibitor treatment in spondylarthropathies.