Decreased flow-mediated dilatation with increased arterial stiffness and thickness as early signs of atherosclerosis in polymyositis and dermatomyositis patients

Several autoimmune rheumatic diseases have been associated with accelerated atherosclerosis or other different types of vasculopathy depending on the underlying disease, leading to increased cardio- and cerebrovascular disease risk. Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM), members of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), a group of systemic autoimmune diseases are also associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Up until now, no specific data is known on the mechanisms, risk factors, or possible vasculopathy leading to increased CVD risk. The aims of the present study were to assess the flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery by a TensioClinic arteriograph and to measure the thickness of carotid artery intima–media, the augmentation index, and the pulse wave velocity using high-resolution ultrasonography in a cohort of PM and DM patients. We also investigated the correlation of these parameters with the traditional risk factors of atherosclerosis and overall cardiovascular status within PM and DM patients. Twenty-seven patients (21 females, six males) with IIMs were enrolled in this study, and 38 healthy individuals matched for sex and age served as controls. We found a decreased flow-mediated dilatation in the brachial artery (6.36 vs. 8.39 %) with increased arterial stiffness and carotid artery thickness in our patients compared to healthy controls. We found significantly decreased flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery (5.57 vs. 8.39 %) in DM patients. We also detected a correlation between these parameters and the traditional cardiovascular risk factors, as well as hypertriglyceridemy, hypertension, and peripheral arterial disease. In DM, overall, more vascular abnormalities were found than in PM. Our findings suggest that flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, arterial stiffness, and carotid artery thickness measurements could be beneficial for predicting the CVD risk in myositis patients. Further investigations need to find the potential differences and role of inflammation and immune mechanisms in atherosclerotic processes in DM and PM.