OBJECTIVE: To assess the occurrence and distribution of the macrovascular alterations in a population with Systemic Sclerosis (SS) by means of Doppler ultrasound (Doppler US) and ankle-arm index (AAI). To investigate the assotiation of these findings with both demographic and clinical characteristics in the patients as well as with risk factors and antecedents of atheromatous disease. METHODS: Prospective study, of the series of cases type, comprising 20 patients, 19 of whom were women with a median age of 46.30 years. Eighty-five percent were of the diffuse form. All the patients had the Raynaud's phenomenon, 55% presented alteration of digital pulps, 15% current limb ulcers and 25% phalanx resorption. There were no amputations and 70% presented from 1 to 4 risk factors for atherosclerosis. The aorta, carotids as well as upper (ULs) and lower (LLs) limbs arteries were evaluated by Doppler US to assess thickening of the medio-intimal complex (MIC), presence of plaques and aneurisms. In the arteries of the LLs, AAI was also undertaken. RESULTS: AAI was normal in all patients, 12 patients (60%) presented macrovascular disease (MVD) comprising 9 (45%) of these in the aorta, 7 (35%) in LLs arteries , 6 (30%) in the carotids and 1 (5%) in ULs arteries. MVD and alterations of digital pulps were positivily associated (p = 0.0045). CONCLUSIONS: Doppler US identified MVD in 60% of our SS patients. No patients had abnormal AAI. MDV was positivily associated with digital pulps alterations. The macrovascular alterations found are not necessarily associated with systemic sclerosis, and may be due to atherosclerosis process.
systemic sclerosis; macrovascular disease; Doppler ultrasound; atherosclerosis
