Diffuse endothelial dysfunction is common to ANCA associated systemic vasculitis and polyarteritis nodosa.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Excess cardiovascular mortality complicates systemic rheumatic disease, suggesting an accelerated atheromatous process, which it has been proposed relates to the vascular inflammation common in such diseases. Impaired endothelium dependent vasodilatation is an early marker of atheromatous disease. It has previously been shown that such endothelial cell dysfunction (ECD) occurring in the brachial artery can complicate primary systemic necrotising vasculitis (SNV). OBJECTIVE:To determine if ECD occurs in a wider spectrum of primary SNV, if it is restricted to the major arteries, and whether vasculitis subgroup, ANCA status, or renal involvement influenced the endothelial responses. METHODS:Fifty four patients attending the Birmingham vasculitis clinic, including patients with a ra

SUBMITTER: Filer AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1754444 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature