Prevalence and significance of decreased bone density in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Effect of experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension on renal and bone parameters of rats submitted to resistance exercise training

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by right ventricular failure and diminished cardiac output, potentially leading to renal and bone impairments. In contrast, resistance exercise training (RT) offers cardiovascular and bone health benefits. This study aimed to assess the impacts of stable PAH induced by monocrotaline (MCT) and RT on renal morphometry, as well as bone morphometry and biomechanical properties in male Wistar rats. Four experimental groups, untrained control (UC, n=7), trained control (TC, n=7), untrained hypertensive (UH, n=7), trained hypertensive (TH, n=7), were defined. After the first MCT or saline injection (20 mg/kg), trained rats were submitted to a RT program (i.e., Ladder climbing), 5 times/week. Seven days later the rats received the second MCT or saline dose. After euthanasia, renal and femoral histomorphometry and femoral biomechanical properties were assessed. PAH reduced renal glomerular area and volume, which was prevented by the RT. While PAH did not harm the femoral morphometry, structural and mechanical properties, RT improved the femoral parameters (e.g., length, percentage of trabeculae and bone marrow, ultimte and yield loads). Experimental stable PAH promotes renal but not bone damages, whereas RT prevents renal deteriorations and improves the femoral morphological and biomechanical properties.

High prevalence and risk factors for osteoporosis in 1839 patients with systemic sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Osteoporosis is prevalent in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Updated evidence is required to complement the previous systematic review on this topic to provide best practices. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively synthesize data from studies concerning the prevalence and risk factors for osteoporosis among patients with SSc.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases for potential studies published from inception to May 31, 2022. Eligibility screening, data extraction, and quality assessment of the retrieved articles were conducted independently by two reviewers. Then meta-analyses were performed to determine osteoporosis prevalence and risk factors in patients with SSc. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to explore the sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence of osteoporosis in patients with SSc was 27% (95% CI, 24-31), with moderate heterogeneity (I² = 61.6%). Meta-regression revealed no significant difference among all variables. And the presence of SSc increased the likelihood of having osteoporosis (OR = 3.05, 95% CI, 2.32-4.01) compared to controls. These significant risk factors for osteoporosis in SSc patients were age > 50 years (OR = 2.94, 95% CI, 1.52-5.68), menopause (OR = 3.90; 95% CI, 1.94-7.84), aging (MD = 8.40; 95% CI,6.10-10.71) and longer disease duration (MD = 4.78; 95% CI,1.83-7.73). However, female (OR = 1.45; 95% CI, 0.75-2.77), pulmonary arterial hypertension (OR = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.17-1.54), and diffuse cutaneous SSc (OR = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.75-1.48) were not significant risk factors for osteoporosis in SSc patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Osteoporosis was highly prevalent in patients with SSc, and the prevalence seemed to be high and similar in many countries. The age > 50 years, menopause, aging, and longer disease duration were identified as risk factors for osteoporosis in patients with SSc.

Restoration of Vitamin D Levels Improves Endothelial Function and Increases TASK-Like K+ Currents in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency

Background: Vitamin D (vitD) deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Moreover, PAH-patients with lower levels of vitD have worse prognosis. We hypothesize that recovering optimal levels of vitD in an animal model of PAH previously depleted of vitD improves the hemodynamics, the endothelial dysfunction and the ionic remodeling. Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed a vitD-free diet for five weeks and then received a single dose of Su5416 (20 mg/Kg) and were exposed to vitD-free diet and chronic hypoxia (10% O₂) for three weeks to induce PAH. Following this, vitD deficient rats with PAH were housed in room air and randomly divided into two groups: (a) continued on vitD-free diet or (b) received an oral dose of 100,000 IU/Kg of vitD plus standard diet for three weeks. Hemodynamics, pulmonary vascular remodeling, pulmonary arterial contractility, and K⁺ currents were analyzed. Results: Recovering optimal levels of vitD improved endothelial function, measured by an increase in the endothelium-dependent vasodilator response to acetylcholine. It also increased the activity of TASK-1 potassium channels. However, vitD supplementation did not reduce pulmonary pressure and did not ameliorate pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricle hypertrophy. Conclusions: Altogether, these data suggest that in animals with PAH and severe deficit of vitD, restoring vitD levels to an optimal range partially improves some pathophysiological features of PAH.

Adipokines: A Possible Contribution to Vascular and Bone Remodeling in Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Osteoporosis is a major comorbidity of cardio-respiratory diseases, but the mechanistic links between pulmonary arterial hypertension and bone remain elusive. The purpose of the stud was to evaluate serum adipokines and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in the patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) NYHA class III-IV and to determine its associations with bone mineral density (BMD). Pulmonary and hemodynamic parameters, BMD Z-scores at the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN), serum leptin, adiponectin, visfatin and endothelin-1 (ET-1), were evaluated in 32 patients with IPAH NYHA class III-IV and 30 healthy volunteers. Leptin, adiponectin and ET-1 were higher in the patients with IPAH than in healthy subjects. Visfatin level showed a tendency to increase compared to that of healthy subjects (p = 0.076). The univariate analysis revealed a positive correlation between BMD Z-scores at both sites and 6-min walk test, and inverse relation with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP). Adiponectin and visfatin showed positive correlations with PVR (p = 0.009 and p = 0.006). Serum adiponectin, visfatin and leptin were inversely associated with Z-scores. After adjusting for BMI and FMI, such associations persisted between visfatin and adiponectin levels and Z-scores at both sites. ET-1 related to mPAP, cardiac index and PVR. Negative correlation was observed between ET-1 and FN BMD (p = 0.01). Positive correlations have revealed between ET-1 and adiponectin (p = 0.02), visfatin (p = 0.004) in IPAH patients. These results provide further evidence that adipokine and endothelial dysregulation may cause not only a decrease in BMD, but also an increase in hemodynamic disorders of IPAH.

Comprehensive Care of the Lung Transplant Patient

Lung transplantation has evolved into a life-saving treatment with improved quality of life for patients with end-stage respiratory failure unresponsive to other medical or surgical interventions. With improving survival rates, the number of lung transplant recipients with preexisting and posttransplant comorbidities that require attention continues to increase. A partnership between transplant and nontransplant care providers is necessary to deliver comprehensive and optimal care for transplant candidates and recipients. The goals of this partnership include timely referral and assistance with transplant evaluation, optimization of comorbidities and preparation for transplantation, management of common posttransplant medical comorbidities, immunization, screening for malignancy, and counseling for a healthy lifestyle to maximize the likelihood of a good outcome. We aim to provide an outline of the main aspects of the care of candidates for and recipients of lung transplants for nontransplant physicians and other care providers.

Role of vascular remodeling markers in the development of osteoporosis in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

Aim. To define the role of circulating biomarkers for the metabolism of collagen and intercellular substance and vascular remodeling in the development of osteoporosis (OP) in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Materials and methods. Functional hemodynamic parameters, bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine and femoral neck and the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), MMP-9/TIMP-1 complex, C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type 1 (CITP), and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were determined in 27 high-risk IPAH patients and 30 healthy volunteers. Results. OP in IPAH was detected in 50% of the examinees. The serum levels of CITP, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and ET-1 proved to be higher in the high-risk IPAH patients than in the healthy volunteers. There was a direct correlation between BMD and six-minute walk test and an inverse correlation with total pulmonary vascular resistance (TPVR). Serum TMIP-1 levels correlated with cardiac index and TPVR; ET-1 concentrations were directly related to pulmonary artery systolic pressure, cardiac index, and TPVR. Inverse relationships were found between BMD and circulating CITP, MMP-9, TMIP-1, MMP-9/TMIP-1, and ET-1. At the same time, there was only a tendency towards a positive correlation between serum CITP and ET-1 concentrations. Conclusion. The results of the investigation confirm that endothelin system dysregulation plays a leading role in the development of persistent hemodynamic disorders in high-risk IPAH and suggest that it is involved in the development of osteopenic syndrome. Enhanced ET-1 secretion initiates bone loss possibly via activation of connective tissue matrix destruction.

The relationship of severe health disorders with bone loss, grip strength, and mobility in postmenopausal women - a 15-year follow-up study

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationships of severe health disorders (SHD) with bone loss, grip strength (GS) and mobility in postmenopausal women.

METHOD

The study sample consisted of 2227 Finnish women (mean age 53.2) from the Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention (OSTPRE) cohort. Postal inquiries and clinical measurements were completed during the 15-year follow-up at 5-year intervals between 1989 and 2004. Femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) and GS were measured. Life-style factors and mobility were obtained via postal inquiries. Work disability pension according to the ICD-9 was an indicator of a SHD.

RESULTS

At the baseline 242 women had SHD, 506 got late SHD during 1989-1995, whereas 1479 women had none until 1996. The women with baseline SHD had higher annual bone loss (0.44%) than those without SHD (0.34%) (p < 0.05), those with late SHD (0.39%) no difference was seen. Bone loss was highest with respiratory diseases, but BMD was lowest throughout the follow-up in nervous and sense organ diseases. Lower GS and mobility was also associated with SHD.

CONCLUSION

Effects of SHDs on BMD, GS, and mobility are disease-specific. Thus, rehabilitation should be encouraged in postmenopausal women with SHD, especially in case of diseases of respiratory and nervous system. Implications for Rehabilitation Osteoporosis, muscle strength and co-morbidity Women with severe health disorders (SHD) leading to work disability have impaired musculoskeletal health. Active monitoring of the musculoskeletal health is advised for those with SHD. Women with SHD may benefit from rehabilitative treatment in order to avoid complications of musculoskeletal impairments.

The association between systemic sclerosis and bone mineral density- a meta-analysis of observational studies

Previous research has shown inconsistent effect of systemic sclerosis (SSc) on bone mineral density (BMD). The objective of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of previous articles to investigate the differences in BMD (g/cm(2) ) between SSc and non-SSc populations and to discuss potential underlying mechanisms. Twelve full-text articles (including an outlier study and two studies with identical data) with 662 SSc patients and 886 controls were identified by searching Medline prior to 10 September, 2013 using search terms 'Systemic sclerosis' OR 'scleroderma' and 'osteoporosis' OR 'bone density' OR 'bone mass'. BMD (mean and standard deviation), T-scores and Z-scores at lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were extracted. Meta-analysis showed that a lower level of BMD was found in SSc patients, with weighted mean difference of -0.343 (95% CI: -0.500 to -0.186) at femoral neck, -0.084 (95% CI: -0.110 to -0.057) at total hip and -0.104 (95% CI: -0.135 to -0.073) at the lumbar spine. We conclude that patients with SSc may have a lower BMD level than healthy controls.