Publication of collaborative research paper on preclinical atherosclerosis in cystic fibrosis

The Journal of Cystic Fibrosis (Impact Factor 5.482) published an article by N.Y. Kashirskaya, chief researcher of the FSBI RCMG Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory (headed by Prof. R.A. Zinchenko, Dr. med. sci.) together with a group of coauthors.

The article discusses the study of possible causes of atherosclerosis and hence the risk of cardiovascular disease in cystic fibrosis using such markers as the arterial Stiffness Index of digital volume pulse (SIDVP) measured by photoplethysmography and the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries.

Fifty-five patients with moderate-to-severe CF (mean age 26.3±8.6 years, BMI 20.3±3.1 kg/m2, FEV1 62±26%) and 51 healthy controls (25.1±4.4 years, BMI 21.7±3.0 kg/m2) entered the study. SIDVP was greater in pancreatic insufficient (PI), but not pancreatic sufficient (PS) CF patients compared with control (7.3±1.8 m/s vs 6.0±1.2 m/s; p=7.1 × 10-5). IMT was increased in PS (but not PI) participants relative to control (552±69 µm vs 456±95 µm, p=0.0011). SIDVP was also greater in PI than in PS patients (7.3±1.8 m/s vs 6.3±1.7 m/s, p=0.0232) and IMT was higher in PS compared with PI (552±69 µm vs 453±82 µm, p=0.0002). SIDVP independently associated with age, PI, the lack of liver cirrhosis, and with Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization. PS was the only independent correlate of IMT in CF.

Thus, PI patients are at risk of developing general arterial stiffness. At the same time, PS may relate to carotid IMT thickening. The need for further study that could lead to reconsideration of dietary guidance in PS CF is noted.

Nowak J.K., Wykrętowicz A., Mądry E., Krauze T., Drzymała-Czyż S., Krzyżanowska-Jankowska P., Sobkowiak P., Schneider A., Goździk-Spychalska J., Kurek S., Kononets V., Kashirskaya N., Lisowska A., Walkowiak J. Preclinical atherosclerosis in cystic fibrosis: Two distinct presentations are related to pancreatic status. J Cyst Fibros. 2021 Jul 10:S1569-1993(21)01294-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2021.06.010

https://www.cysticfibrosisjournal.com/article/S1569-1993(21)01294-7/fulltext