Review
Non-invasive vascular biomarkers in patients with Behçet’s disease: review of the data and future perspectives
A.D. Protogerou1, E.G. Nasothimiou2, P.P. Sfikakis3, A.G. Tzioufas4
- Department of Pathophysiology; and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, Medical School of the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. aprotog@med.uoa.gr
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School of the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, and 1st Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School of the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
- Department of Pathophysiology; and Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, Medical School of the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
CER10176
2017 Vol.35, N°6 ,Suppl.108
PI 0100, PF 0107
Review
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PMID: 29148423 [PubMed]
Received: 13/12/2016
Accepted : 23/02/2017
In Press: 06/10/2017
Published: 27/11/2017
Abstract
Vascular inflammation in small to large veins and arteries contributes substantially to mortality above that of the general population in Behçet’s disease. Recent data verified also the presence of accelerated classical subclinical arterial damage (atheromatosis, arteriosclerosis, arterial hypertrophy) even in patients free of overt vascular complications, and may be complementary to that of vasculitis. Early detection of such vascular damage might provide helpful pathophysiological insight and potentially even guide treatment management. Herein, we review the existing literature for each one of the most widely applied non-invasive vascular biomarkers (assessing endothelial dysfunction, atheromatosis/hypertrophy, arteriosclerosis and central haemodynamic parameters) that are clinically used in primary cardiovascular prevention. We aim to: (i) identify early pathophysiological vascular pathways, complementary to vasculitis, in the development of vascular complications and (ii) identify gaps in knowledge and suggest future research topics. We identified evidence of proof of concept for some of the widely applied non-invasive vascular biomarkers (carotid plaques, pulse wave velocity, flow mediated dilatation). Yet, several steps in their clinical validation process are lacking. Extensive vascular phenotyping of a large prospective observational patient cohort with the application of these easy-to-use, low-cost, free of any adverse effect, non-invasive methods should be performed in order to test their ability to provide clinically meaningful guidance regarding the prognosis and treatment of Behçet’s disease.
