The Impaired Elasticity of Large Arteries in Systemic Sclerosis Patients

(1) Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction and fibrosis of skin and visceral organs. In the last decade, attention has been focused on the macrovascular involvement of the disease. In particular, the observation of increased arterial stiffness represented an interesting aspect of the disease, as predictor of cardiovascular risk. (2) Methods: We recruited 60 SSc patients (52 +/- 12 years old, 90% females) and 150 age/sex-matched healthy controls in order to evaluate both intima-media thickness of the right common carotid artery and arterial stiffness using the B-mode echography and the SphygmoCor system (R) tonometer. (3) Results: The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was higher in SSc patients than in controls (8.6 +/- 1.7 vs. 7.8 +/- 1.5 m/s; p < 0.001), as was the carotid-radial PWV (7.8 +/- 1.1 vs. 6.7 +/- 1.4 m/s; p < 0.001). The intima-media thickness was higher in SSc than in controls (654 +/- 108 vs. 602 +/- 118 mu m; p = 0.004). The other parameters measured at carotid (radial strain, Young's modulus, compliance and distensibility) all indicated that arterial stiffness in tension was more pronounced in SSc. Of interest, the direct correlation between PWV and age corresponded closely in SSc. Moreover, a significant difference between SSc and controls as regards the carotid parameters was evident in younger subjects. (4) Conclusions: SSc patients showed an increased arterial stiffness compared to healthy controls. In particular, an SSc-related pathologic effect was suggested by the more pronounced increase in PWV with age and lower values of carotid elasticity in younger SSc patients than in age-matched controls.