Osmundo GS, et al. - Here, researchers evaluated the arterial distensibility of large vessels and changes in microvasculature in primary antiphospholipid syndrome. In antiphospholipid syndrome (APL) patients, the higher b/a (a marker of large-vessel resistance) ratio suggested decreased distensibility of large arteries and could be the reason why APL patients were at higher risk for cardiovascular events. The d/a ratio (a marker of small vessel vascular resistance) was not different than controls.

Methods

• Researchers evaluated 22 antiphospholipid syndrome (APL) patients and 66 age-, sex-, height-, and blood pressure–matched controls.
• To evaluate the pulse wave, second derivative of the finger photoplethysmogram (SDPTG) was used as a noninvasive method.
• They calculated the b/a and d/a indices, which reflect, respectively, large-vessel and small-vessel properties, from the SDPTG waveform components.
• They also determined vascular age index.

Results

• With a predominance of stroke episodes (61.5%), arterial thrombosis occurred in 59.1% (13/22) of APL patients.
• Researchers observed venous thromboembolism in 36.4% (all deep venous thrombosis), and obstetric complications in 36.4%.
• In APL patients and control subjects (P > 0.05), frequency of diabetes mellitus, smoking, and dyslipidemia was comparable.
• Regarding plethysmography findings, higher b/a ratio was noted in patients than in control subjects (-0.44 ± 0.16 vs -0.54 ± 0.18, P=0.034), while d/a ratio (-0.30 ± 0.16 vs -0.31 ± 0.18, P=0.83) was comparable.
• Furthemore, among both groups, SDPTG (-0.16 ± 0.35 vs -0.30 ± 0.38, P=0.16) and vascular age index values (53.5 ± 11.6 vs 51.8 ± 16.1, P=0.65) were alike.
• Patients with arterial and venous thrombosis had similar b/a, d/a, and vascular age indices (P=0.95; P=0.06; P=0.12, respectively) regarding disease-related factors.