The aim of the present retrospective observational study was to evaluate the change of Renal Resistive Index (RRI) over time (ΔRRI) and under treatment in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) as well as to correlate these changes with disease complications.

Methods. Two hundred thirty patients [29 male, median age 57 (IQR 48–67) yrs] were enrolled. At baseline and follow-up (3.43, IQR 2.81–4.45 yrs), we collected the following data: disease variables, nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) pattern, forced vital capacity (FVC), diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP), presence of interstitial lung disease, RRI, evaluation of glomerular filtration rate, and new onset of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Results. RRI value is high in SSc patients with digital ulcers and anticentromere antibodies, active and late NVC patterns, and limited cutaneous SSc. A significant correlation was observed between ΔRRI and ΔsPAP (R = 0.17, P = 0.02), with statistically higher ΔRRI (0.08 ± 0.02 vs 0.03 ± 0.05, P = 0.04) in patients complicated by PAH onset. No other new-onset complication was associated with ΔRRI.

Reference link- https://www.jrheum.org/content/48/2/241

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