Abstract:
Purpose of the study. To evaluate the frequency of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, clinical and
subclinical manifestations of atherosclerosis in patients with systemic scleroderma (SS). Material and methods. We
examined 70 patients with a reliable diagnosis of SS (66 women and 4 men), cf. age 46 ± 10.8 years. The control
group consisted of 50 "conditionally" healthy volunteers without systemic rheumatic diseases and Raynaud's
syndrome, matched by sex and age. Material and methods. We examined 70 patients with a reliable diagnosis of SS
(66 women and 4 men), cf. age 46 ± 10.8 years. Control group - 50 "conditionally" healthy volunteers without
systemic rheumatic diseases and Raynaud's syndrome, matched by sex and age. Results. The prevalence of
traditional cardiovascular risk factors and TFR% were comparable in patients with SS and in the control group. The
frequency of menopause was higher in patients with SS (p=0.005). IHD was diagnosed more often in patients with
SS (13% vs. 2%, p<0.05). The mean triglyceride level in SS patients was significantly higher than in the control
group (p<0.001). There was a tendency to increase TIM max. and the frequency of thickening of the IMT complex
in patients with SS compared with the control group. Conclusion. Among SS patients, there was a higher prevalence
of clinical and subclinical manifestations of atherosclerosis compared with the control group, with no significant
differences in the incidence of major cardiovascular risk factors.
