ArticleMediterranean journal of rheumatology2026
Arterial Stiffness and Early Vascular Damage in Ankylosing Spondylitis Regardless of Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Article in Mediterranean journal of rheumatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Our aim is to evaluate subclinical vascular damage in patients with ankylosing spondylitis using one-point echo-tracking-derived arterial stiffness indices and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and to explore associations with inflammatory activity and traditional cardiovascular risk scores. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 83 patients with AS and 31 age- and sex-matched controls without inflammatory or cardiovascular disease. All participants underwent high-resolution ultrasound of the common carotid artery with one-point echo-tracking assessment of arterial stiffness parameters, including β-stiffness index, local pulse wave velocity (PWVβ), Peterson's elastic modulus (Ep), arterial compliance, and augmentation index, alongside CIMT measurement. Ten-year cardiovascular risk was estimated using the Framingham Risk Score and SCORE2. Results: Traditional cardiovascular risk estimates were comparable between groups (Framingham risk: 3.7 [2.0-7.5]% vs 5.25 [2.5-8.0]%, p = 0.378; SCORE2: 6.7 [3.5-10.5]% vs 7.3 [3.0-11.0]%, p = 0.718). In contrast, patients with AS demonstrated significantly increased arterial stiffness, with higher β-stiffness index (7.0 [5.4-8.6] vs 6.05 [5.2-6.9], p < 0.001), PWVβ (5.8 [5.2-6.5] vs 5.45 [4.9-5.9] m/s, p < 0.001), and Ep (90 [68-112] vs 78.5 [66-90] kPa, p < 0.001). CIMT did not differ significantly between groups. Body mass index independently predicted arterial stiffness (PWVβ standardized β = 0.41, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Ankylosing spondylitis is characterised by early functional vascular impairment despite preserved traditional cardiovascular risk profiles. One-point echo-tracking-derived arterial stiffness indices identify subclinical vascular damage beyond conventional risk assessment and may improve cardiovascular risk stratification in AS.
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