Prevalence of macrovascular disease in systemic sclerosis

ABSTRACT

To detect the prevalence of macrovascular disease in systemic sclerosis. Thirty patients with systemic sclerosis and ten normal controls matched in age and sex were included in the study. All subjects were screened for atherosclerosis risk factors and non-invasive vascular assessment as carotid duplex scanning and measurement of ankle brachial blood pressure index. There was no significant difference in risk factors as cigarette smoking, systolic, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels between patients and controls groups. Twenty three out of 30 patients [76.7%] had carotid artery disease compared to [30%] of normal controls with a highly significant difference. Macrovascular disease is a common finding in systemic sclerosis. Early identification allows early intervention and treatment with better control of high rate of cardiovascular mortality