Lenka Turoňová, Karolína Vorčáková, Eva Hyrdelová, Juraj Péč, Peter Bánovčin
Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the presence of endothelial dysfunction in children with juvenile psoriatic arthritis, assuming the absence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and to assess to what extent is the formation of endothelial dysfunction in these patients related to disease activity and degree of functional disability.
Patients: 25 patients with juvenile psoriatic arthritis and 25 healthy children aged 6-19 years were enrolled in this study.
Methods: In all subjects vascular measurements over a period of three years (January 2013 – January 2016) were performed, in accordance with the guidelines for ultrasonographic evaluation of FMD% (flow-mediated endothelial dependent vasodilatation) of the brachial artery.
Results: In patients with juvenile psoriatic arthritis significantly lower FMD% values when compared to healthy controls (P <0.001) have been observed. Significant correlations between the values of FMD% and the disease duration (P <0.001), early onset of the disease (P = 0.001), level of non-specific inflammatory markers (P <0.001), degree of functional disability (P <0.01) and the presence of some, with an early onset associated HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigens) (P <0.005) have also been detected.
Conclusion: This study is the first work in the Slovak Republic, bringing a view of the presence of endothelial dysfunction in children with juvenile psoriatic arthritis and results are reflecting nearly national wide prevalence of this disease.
The authors declare that endothelial dysfunction is present in pediatric patients with juvenile psoriatic arthritis even in the absence of traditional predictors. Its origin seems to be related to disease activity and disability as well as to the early onset of the disease.