Steroid hormones in systemic sclerosis: associations with disease characteristics and modifications during scleroderma renal crisis

A Collet; S Sanges; A Ghulam; M Genin; B Soudan; V Sobanski; E Hachulla; S Dubucquoi; B Djobo; S Espiard; C Douillard; D Launay

doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kead699

Steroid hormones in systemic sclerosis: associations with disease characteristics and modifications during scleroderma renal crisis

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Dec 23:kead699. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead699. Online ahead of print.

Authors

A Collet^{1

2

3

4

5

6}, S Sanges^{1

2

3

4

5

6}, A Ghulam⁷, M Genin⁸, B Soudan⁷, V Sobanski^{1

2

3

4

5}, E Hachulla^{1

2

3

4

5}, S Dubucquoi^{1

2

6}, B Djobo⁷, S Espiard⁹, C Douillard⁹, D Launay^{1

2

3

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Univ. Lille, Lille, F-59000, France, U1286-INFINITE-Institute for Translational Research in Inflammation.
² INSERM, Lille, F-59000, France.
³ CHU Lille, Département de Médecine Interne et Immunologie Clinique, Lille, F-59000, France.
⁴ Centre National de Référence Maladies Auto-immunes Systémiques Rares du Nord et Nord-Ouest de France (CeRAINO), Lille, F-59000, France.
⁵ Health Care Provider of the European Reference Network on Rare Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases Network (ReCONNET), Lille, F-59000, France.
⁶ CHU Lille, Institut d'Immunologie, Pôle de Biologie Pathologie Génétique, Lille, F-59000, France.
⁷ CHU Lille, Pôle de Biologie Pathologie Génétique, Service Hormonologie, Métabolisme, Nutrition, Oncologie, F59000 Lille, France.
⁸ Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS: Évaluation des technologies de santé et des pratiques médicales, Lille, F-59000, France.
⁹ CHU Lille, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolism and Nutrition, Lille, F-59000, France.

PMID: 38141209
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead699

Abstract

Objective: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and glucocorticoids (GCs) are involved in vascular remodeling and fibrosis, but have not been extensively studied in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our aim was to investigate the RAAS and GC hormones in SSc patients.

Methods: Serum levels of renin (dosage and activity), aldosterone and its precursors (DOC, B, 18-OH-DOC, 18-OH-B), and GCs (cortisol, cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, 18-OH-F) were assessed in 122 SSc patients and 52 healthy controls. After applying stringent inclusion criteria aimed at ensuring accurate hormone assessments (exclusion of interfering drugs, strict sampling conditions), we analyzed RAAS hormones in 61 patients, and GCs in 96 patients. Hormone levels were compared between patients and controls; and associations with disease characteristics were assessed in patients.

Results: Regarding RAAS hormones, SSc patients displayed significantly lower aldosterone levels (although within normal range), similar renin levels, and higher B levels than controls. Abnormal RAAS hormone levels were associated with a more severe SSc phenotype (lung and skin fibrosis, heart and pulmonary vascular involvements, inflammation). Regarding GC hormones, SSc patients had higher levels of cortisol, 11-desoxycortisol (precursor) and 18-OH-F (metabolite) but lower levels of cortisone (inactive counterpart) than controls.RAAS hormone levels were assessed in 5 SSc patients before and during scleroderma renal crisis (SRC): concentrations varied considerably between patients, but consistently included normal/increased aldosterone levels and elevated renin levels.

Conclusion: RAAS and GC hormones are abnormally produced in SSc patients, especially in patients with severe SSc and during SRC. This could suggest a participation of these hormonal systems in SSc pathogenesis.

Keywords: aldosterone; angiotensin; cortisol; cortisone; mineralocorticoids; renin; scleroderma renal crisis; steroid hormones; systemic sclerosis.