Evaluation of Carotid Artery Elastic Function Using Ultrafast Pulse Wave Velocity and Related Influential Factors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

\n PurposeUltrafast pulse wave velocity (UFPWV) is an innovative and practical technology that can assess the elastic function of blood vessels. This study aimed to explore the elastic function of the carotid artery using UFPWV and related influential factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsOverall, 120 patients with RA and 60 healthy controls were evaluated. Subjects underwent UFPWV and carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) examination. The patients were divided into a mild activity group (group A) and moderate-to-severe activity group (group B). Differences in clinical indicators among the groups were determined, and the correlation between each indicator and PWV value was analyzed.ResultsThe PWV values were higher in group B than in group A and were higher in group A than in the control group (P < 0.05). The BS and ES n the patient group were positively correlated with age, course of disease, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), cIMT, rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and platelets and were negatively correlated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D3) and hemoglobin (P < 0.05). RF, anti-CCP antibody, age, course of disease, SBP, LDL-C, and platelets were risk factors for arteriosclerosis, whereas hemoglobin and 25(OH)D3 were protective factors (P < 0.05).ConclusionUFPWV allows for early and accurate detection of changes in arterial elasticity and enables early intervention to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with RA.