No difference in endothelial microvasculation measured by peripheral arterial tonometry in patients with Sjögren’s disease and matched controls

Sjögren’s disease (SjD) is a connective tissue autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammatory infiltration of the exocrine glands, leading to symptoms such as dryness, pain, and fatigue. Additionally, up to 50% of patients may experience extraglandular manifestations. SjD patients face a higher c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Franziska Maria Tapken, Nadine Zehrfeld, Malin Abelmann, Anna Charlotte Müller-Vahl, Sabrina Benz, Tabea Seeliger, Thomas Skripuletz, Torsten Witte, Kristina Sonnenschein, Johann Bauersachs, Udo Bavendiek, Thomas Thum, Anselm A. Derda, Diana Ernst
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1563796/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850094999673241600
author Franziska Maria Tapken
Nadine Zehrfeld
Malin Abelmann
Malin Abelmann
Malin Abelmann
Anna Charlotte Müller-Vahl
Sabrina Benz
Tabea Seeliger
Thomas Skripuletz
Torsten Witte
Kristina Sonnenschein
Kristina Sonnenschein
Johann Bauersachs
Udo Bavendiek
Thomas Thum
Anselm A. Derda
Anselm A. Derda
Diana Ernst
author_facet Franziska Maria Tapken
Nadine Zehrfeld
Malin Abelmann
Malin Abelmann
Malin Abelmann
Anna Charlotte Müller-Vahl
Sabrina Benz
Tabea Seeliger
Thomas Skripuletz
Torsten Witte
Kristina Sonnenschein
Kristina Sonnenschein
Johann Bauersachs
Udo Bavendiek
Thomas Thum
Anselm A. Derda
Anselm A. Derda
Diana Ernst
author_sort Franziska Maria Tapken
collection DOAJ
description Sjögren’s disease (SjD) is a connective tissue autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammatory infiltration of the exocrine glands, leading to symptoms such as dryness, pain, and fatigue. Additionally, up to 50% of patients may experience extraglandular manifestations. SjD patients face a higher cardiovascular risk, including severe events like myocardial infarction and strokes, partly due to an increased likelihood of subclinical atherosclerosis. Therefore, identifying SjD patients at an early stage is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. In this study, SjD patients who met the current ACR/EULAR 2016 classification criteria were consecutively enrolled in our outpatient clinic. A control cohort was recruited through a multimedia call for participation. To assess changes in endothelial functions, a reactive hyperemia index (RHI) was calculated using peripheral arterial tonometry with the EndoPAT® measurement device. RHI values below 1.67 were considered pathological. The dataset consists of 49 SjD patients and 27 healthy controls. Both groups had similar ages and comparable cardiovascular risk factors. No differences in RHI were observed between the two cohorts. The only significant factor that was predictive for a low RHI was an increased body mass index (p = 0.036). These findings suggest that EndoPAT measurements may not be a suitable method for detecting changes in endothelial function specific to patients with SjD.
format Article
id doaj-art-482b14bb2ee641d89acfbafd823f1065
institution DOAJ
issn 2296-858X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-482b14bb2ee641d89acfbafd823f10652025-08-20T02:41:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-07-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15637961563796No difference in endothelial microvasculation measured by peripheral arterial tonometry in patients with Sjögren’s disease and matched controlsFranziska Maria Tapken0Nadine Zehrfeld1Malin Abelmann2Malin Abelmann3Malin Abelmann4Anna Charlotte Müller-Vahl5Sabrina Benz6Tabea Seeliger7Thomas Skripuletz8Torsten Witte9Kristina Sonnenschein10Kristina Sonnenschein11Johann Bauersachs12Udo Bavendiek13Thomas Thum14Anselm A. Derda15Anselm A. Derda16Diana Ernst17Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Angiology and Cardiology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyInstitute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Angiology and Cardiology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyInstitute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Angiology and Cardiology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Angiology and Cardiology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyInstitute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Angiology and Cardiology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyInstitute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanyDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, GermanySjögren’s disease (SjD) is a connective tissue autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammatory infiltration of the exocrine glands, leading to symptoms such as dryness, pain, and fatigue. Additionally, up to 50% of patients may experience extraglandular manifestations. SjD patients face a higher cardiovascular risk, including severe events like myocardial infarction and strokes, partly due to an increased likelihood of subclinical atherosclerosis. Therefore, identifying SjD patients at an early stage is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. In this study, SjD patients who met the current ACR/EULAR 2016 classification criteria were consecutively enrolled in our outpatient clinic. A control cohort was recruited through a multimedia call for participation. To assess changes in endothelial functions, a reactive hyperemia index (RHI) was calculated using peripheral arterial tonometry with the EndoPAT® measurement device. RHI values below 1.67 were considered pathological. The dataset consists of 49 SjD patients and 27 healthy controls. Both groups had similar ages and comparable cardiovascular risk factors. No differences in RHI were observed between the two cohorts. The only significant factor that was predictive for a low RHI was an increased body mass index (p = 0.036). These findings suggest that EndoPAT measurements may not be a suitable method for detecting changes in endothelial function specific to patients with SjD.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1563796/fullendothelial dysfunctionSjögren’s diseasecardiovascular riskEndoPATperipheral arterial tonometrymiRNA
spellingShingle Franziska Maria Tapken
Nadine Zehrfeld
Malin Abelmann
Malin Abelmann
Malin Abelmann
Anna Charlotte Müller-Vahl
Sabrina Benz
Tabea Seeliger
Thomas Skripuletz
Torsten Witte
Kristina Sonnenschein
Kristina Sonnenschein
Johann Bauersachs
Udo Bavendiek
Thomas Thum
Anselm A. Derda
Anselm A. Derda
Diana Ernst
No difference in endothelial microvasculation measured by peripheral arterial tonometry in patients with Sjögren’s disease and matched controls
Frontiers in Medicine
endothelial dysfunction
Sjögren’s disease
cardiovascular risk
EndoPAT
peripheral arterial tonometry
miRNA
title No difference in endothelial microvasculation measured by peripheral arterial tonometry in patients with Sjögren’s disease and matched controls
title_full No difference in endothelial microvasculation measured by peripheral arterial tonometry in patients with Sjögren’s disease and matched controls
title_fullStr No difference in endothelial microvasculation measured by peripheral arterial tonometry in patients with Sjögren’s disease and matched controls
title_full_unstemmed No difference in endothelial microvasculation measured by peripheral arterial tonometry in patients with Sjögren’s disease and matched controls
title_short No difference in endothelial microvasculation measured by peripheral arterial tonometry in patients with Sjögren’s disease and matched controls
title_sort no difference in endothelial microvasculation measured by peripheral arterial tonometry in patients with sjogren s disease and matched controls
topic endothelial dysfunction
Sjögren’s disease
cardiovascular risk
EndoPAT
peripheral arterial tonometry
miRNA
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1563796/full
work_keys_str_mv AT franziskamariatapken nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT nadinezehrfeld nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT malinabelmann nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT malinabelmann nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT malinabelmann nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT annacharlottemullervahl nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT sabrinabenz nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT tabeaseeliger nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT thomasskripuletz nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT torstenwitte nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT kristinasonnenschein nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT kristinasonnenschein nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT johannbauersachs nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT udobavendiek nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT thomasthum nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT anselmaderda nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT anselmaderda nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols
AT dianaernst nodifferenceinendothelialmicrovasculationmeasuredbyperipheralarterialtonometryinpatientswithsjogrensdiseaseandmatchedcontrols