Carotid Atherosclerosis and Flow Mediated Dilatation in the Brachial Artery in Patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Case-control Study

Abstract- Correlation between Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome (PAPS) and cardiovascular events is well-known. For this reason it is important to evidence early atherosclerosis to prevent future events. Aim: to better evaluate Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD) in a group of subjects affected by PAPS paired with a control group, homogeneous for age, sex and without cardiovascular risk factors. Subjects and methods: 31 subjects affected by PAPS and 31 healthy controls underwent Echo- Doppler of brachial artery and evaluation of FMD. Results: PAPS cases perhaps revealed a reduced FMD respect controls. The correlation between age, sex, duration and severity of disease, arterious or venous thrombosis and severity of thrombocythaemia did not influence FMD. Coagulation parameters and presence of ß2 IgM and ß2 IgG antibodies correlated with FMD alterations. Conclusions: FMD is reduced in patients with PAPS and it correlates with coagulation parameters and presence of antibodies that can explain the rise of arterious imbalance. FMD evaluation is necessary in PAPS subjects to prevent fatal cardiovascular events.