Arterial stiffness indexes and serum cytokine levels in seronegative spondyloarthritis: relationships between stiffness markers and metabolic and immunoinflammatory variables

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between immunoinflammatory markers and indexes of arterial stiffness in patients with seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA).Method: We enrolled consecutive patients with inflammatory seronegative SpA referred to a rheumatology outpatient clinic. Control subjects were patients admitted in the same period for any cause other than chronic inflammatory disease or acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured and the aortic pressure waveform was used to calculate the augmentation index (Aix). We also evaluated plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-1β…

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Ischemic stroke in patients with diabetic foot

Panic disorder, anxiety, and cardiovascular diseases

Different data indicate that psychological and/or emotional disorders may play an important role in the natural history of heart diseases. Although the major evidence is that related to depression, epidemiological data would indicate that anxiety and panic disorders are highly represented in cardiac patient, thus influencing mortality and morbidity. The diagnosis of panic disorder in patients with chest pain is crucial to a correct therapeutic approach, as well as to reduce the risks and costs of inappropriate treatments. Anxiety and panic may accelerate different direct and indirect processes involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases: lifestyle risk factors, arterial hyperten…