ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ADVANCED GLYCATION END PRODUCTS AND VASCULAR PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

Objective: Systemic sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis and vascular dysfunction, while advanced glycation end products (AGE) contribute to vascular stiffness and oxidative stress, both of which can influence blood pressure regulation. The aim of this research is to explore the connections between AGEs and blood pressure in this specific population. Design and method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the University Hospital of Split, Centre of Excellence for Systemic Sclerosis from 2023 to 2024. We included 53 participants with confirmed systemic sclerosis with median age 59 years and 7.5% participants were male. Blood pressure evaluation, pulse wave velocity (PWV), as well as anckle-brachial index (ABI), was measured using MESI automated wireless ankle-brachial index system (MESI, 3CUFF™ technology). A non-invasive device (AGE Reader mu, Diagnostics Technologies BV, Groningen, The Netherlands), based on skin autofluorescence, was used to measure AGE. Data on medical history and general data was collected from medical documentation. Results: Median value of AGE in this population was 2.1. Cardiovascular risk was calculated and participants were accordingly divided into two groups – 36 participants with no cardiovascular risk and 17 with elevated cardiovascular risk. No statistically significant differences were found in blood pressure, ABI or PWV values regarding cardiovascular risk categories. Furthermore, when evaluating correlations, AGE levels correlated negatively with both left and right ABI (left r=-0.248, p=0.03 and right r=-0.246, p=0.037). Conclusions: This study suggests that higher levels of advanced glycation end products may be associated with impaired peripheral arterial function in patients with systemic sclerosis, warranting further investigation.