What is it about?
Anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy reduces aortic stiffness in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
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Why is it important?
Increased aortic stiffness is a cardiovascular risk factor and an intermediate end-point. Arterial stiffness is increased In several physiologic (the elderly) and pathologic conditions (i.e., hypertension, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, etc.). Chronic inflammation is an emerging causal factor of arterial stiffening. In these regards, aortic stiffness is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and, finally, in those with inflammatory bowel disease. Interestingly, despite the prevalence of several cardiovascular risk factors (i.e., diabetes and dyslipidaemia) is lower in patients with inflammatory bowel disease than in the general population, the cardiovascular risk is increased. This is the first longitudinal study performed in patients with inflammatory bowel disease reporting that inflammation leads to aorting stiffening whereas immunosuppressive drugs made the opposite.
Perspectives
The reduction of the inflammation leads to a parallel reduction of aortic stiffness. New therapies could be tested in order to reduce aortic stiffness and cardiovascular risk through the control of inflammation.
Dr Luca Zanoli
University of Catania
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Inflammation and Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity: A Multicenter Longitudinal Study in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Journal of the American Heart Association, February 2019, Wolters Kluwer Health,
DOI: 10.1161/jaha.118.010942.
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