The Importance of Risk Factors of Atherosclerosis in Patients with Systemic Scleroderma

Abstract

Purpose of the study. To evaluate the frequency of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, clinical and subclinical manifestations of atherosclerosis in patients with systemic scleroderma (SS). Material and methods. We examined 70 patients with a reliable diagnosis of SS (66 women and 4 men), cf. age 46 ± 10.8 years. The control group consisted of 50 “conditionally” healthy volunteers without systemic rheumatic diseases and Raynaud’s syndrome, matched by sex and age. Material and methods. We examined 70 patients with a reliable diagnosis of SS (66 women and 4 men), cf. age 46 ± 10.8 years. Control group - 50 “conditionally” healthy volunteers without systemic rheumatic diseases and Raynaud’s syndrome, matched by sex and age. Results. The prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and TFR% were comparable in patients with SS and in the control group. The frequency of menopause was higher in patients with SS (p=0.005). IHD was diagnosed more often in patients with (13% vs. 2%, p<0.05). The mean triglyceride level in SS patients was significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.001). There was a tendency to increase TIM max. and the frequency of thickening of the IMT complex in patients with SS compared with the control group. Conclusion. Among SS patients, there was a higher prevalence of clinical and subclinical manifestations of atherosclerosis compared with the control group, with no significant differences in the incidence of major cardiovascular risk factors.