Cardiovascular damage in seronegative spondylarthritis

Abstract

Cardiovascular mortality in patients diagnosed with seronegative spondyloarthritis (SSN) is on the rise. Impairment of the cardiovascular system in ankylosing spondylitis (SpA) is 20-40%, in psoriatic arthritis (APs) 18-22% and in reactive arthritis (ARe) 1-3%. Material and methods. The study included 77 patients diagnosed with SSN. Laboratory (erythrocyte sedimentation rate –ESR, C-reactive protein –CRP, fibrinogen) and in-strumental (echocardiography –EcoCG, electrocardiogram –ECG) data were analyzed.Results.In 35 patients diagnosed with SpA, the left branch hemiblock of the Hiss bundle was determined –71% and bradycardia –57%. Aortic valve (VAo) changes were diag-nosed in 54% and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in 57%. Elevated CRP values were found in 34.5% of cases, ESR –22.8% and fibrinogen –17.2%. In 24 patients with APs, 33.5% showed VAo induration and fibrosis. Another change diagnosed in these patients was LVH (37.5%). Cardiac conductivity disorders in 25% were due to the left branch hemiblock of the Hiss bundle, and among the increased inflammatory markers were: fibrinogen (16.6%) and CRP (12.5%). In 18 patients with ARe as a rhythm disorder, tachycardia is predominant –94% and VAo damage in 27.7%. Inflammatory markers with values above the upper limit were fibrinogen (66%) and CRP (33%).Conclusions.Our study showed that SSN is closely related to the inflammatory syn-drome, on which the activity of the disease and the degree of damage to the cardiovascu-lar system depend. Most often the heart is affected with its components.

Keywords

• seronega-tive spondyloarthritis
• cardiovascular system
• ecg