Evaluation of endothelial disorders in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in postcovid period

Abstract

Purpose of the study. To study the state of endothelial function in patients with ankylosing spondylitis who have undergone COVID-19 by assessing the flow-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery and endothelin-1 in serum. The study involved 80 patients, of which 40 patients (average age 42,3±2,8 years) diagnosed with ankylosing spondyloarthritis who underwent COVID-19 (group I); 40 patients diag- nosed with ankylosing spondyloarthritis (average age 46,3±5,7 years, who did not tolerate COVID-19, 32 healthy volunteers (average age 30,3±6,8 years) made up the control group. Endothelin-1 in serum was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; flow-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery was determined using Philips Affinity 70 (Release 3,0.3, Philips Healthcare, USA).

Results. Analysis of endothelin-1 levels showed statistically significant differences in this indicator be- tween healthy children and patients with groups I and II (0.213 [0.012; 0.368] and 0.227 [0.15; 0.315] pmol/L, respectively; p=0,027). Flow-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery in healthy individuals was 9.82 [7.8; 11.2]%, in patients of groups I and II this indicator tended to decrease - 9.46 [6.5; 10.8]% and 9, 11 (p = 0, 026).

Conclusion. A study of endothelial function in patients with ankylosing spondyloarthritis revealed an in- crease in nitric oxide concentration compared to that in healthy, probably compensatory, subjects. The flow-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery and the endothelin-1 level did not significantly differ from similar parameters of the control group.