Bone mineral density and microarchitecture linkages with micro- and macro-vascular impairments at the hand in systemic sclerosis: an HRpQCT study

Lucie Atlan; Nada Ibrahim-Nasser; Antoine Valery; Carole Bazzi; François Rollin; Guido Bens; Mathilde Marot; Eric Estève; Eric Lespessailles

doi:10.18632/oncotarget.25681

Bone mineral density and microarchitecture linkages with micro- and macro-vascular impairments at the hand in systemic sclerosis: an HRpQCT study

Oncotarget. 2018 Jun 29;9(50):29484-29494. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.25681.

Authors

Lucie Atlan¹, Nada Ibrahim-Nasser^{2

3}, Antoine Valery⁴, Carole Bazzi⁵, François Rollin², Guido Bens⁶, Mathilde Marot¹, Eric Estève^{3

6}, Eric Lespessailles^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France.
² Department of Rheumatology, Regional Hospital of Orleans, Orleans, France.
³ University of Orleans, I3MTO Laboratory, Orleans, France.
⁴ Department of Medical Information, Regional Hospital of Orleans, Orleans, France.
⁵ Department of Vascular Medicine, Regional Hospital of Orleans, Orleans, France.
⁶ Department of Dermatology, Regional Hospital of Orleans, Orleans, France.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the link between bone alteration and micro- and macro-vascular disease in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Results: 33 SSc patients were included. In univariate analysis, low values of cortical vBMD were significantly associated with a low DBI at the 2nd finger (p = 0.004) and at the 4th (p = 0.002) and with severe capillaroscopic score (p = 0.008). In multivariate analyses, low cortical vBMD was associated with a low DBI at the 4th finger, age and severe capillaroscopic score (adjusted R² = 0.58; p = < 0.001). Low cortical thickness was associated with a low DBI at the 4th finger, severe capillaroscopic score and age (adjusted R² = 0.49, p = < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our study findings showed an association between micro- and macro-vessel damage and altered microarchitectural indices at the radius in SSc.

Methods: We performed a pilot study in female patients with SSc. Microvascular disease was assessed by the capillaroscopic score of Cutolo. Macrovascular involvement was measured by digito-brachial pressure index (DBI) on laser-Doppler at the 2nd and 4th finger. Volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone microarchitecture involvement were analysed by High-Resolution peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HRpQCT) at the distal radius.

Keywords: bone microarchitecture; high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography; nailfold videocapillaroscopy; systemic sclerosis; vasculopathy.