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More collagen found in heart muscle of patients with rheumatic disease vs controls
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Compared to patients without rheumatic disease, a higher level of collagen was found in the heart muscle of patients with rheumatic disease, according to a study of 88 patients.
“Increased content of cardiac collagen leads to mechanical stiffness, as well as disruption of the electronic connectivity between cardiomyocytes, resulting in diastolic and systolic dysfunction,” Jacqueline K. Andersen, in the Department of Health at Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and colleagues wrote.
As part of the Feiring Heart Biopsy Study, Andersen and colleagues assessed 88 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Of the patients, 48 had inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD) and 40 patients did not. To determine the presence of inflammatory cell infiltrates (ICIs) and vasculitis, researchers performed hematoxylin and eosin staining. To determine the presence of collagen and adipose tissue, researchers performed Lendrum staining.
Researchers found epicardial ICIs in 56% of patients with IRD and in 60% of patients without IRD. Between the two groups, there was no significant difference in cardiac ICIs or the amount of adipose tissue. However, patients with IRD had more collagen in the myocardium.
As there was no significant difference between cardiac ICIs or the amount of adipose tissue between the two groups, the researchers wrote that their results do not support the idea that cardiac inflammation affects patients with rheumatic disease more than it does patients without rheumatic disease.
However, the researchers concluded the increased collagen in patients with IRD suggests differences in extracellular matrix composition, which could represent a target for new treatments against heart failure. – by Will Offit
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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