TY - JOUR T1 - Pulse Wave Velocity in Systemic Sclerosis: Potential Beneficial Effects of Bosentan on Forearm Arterial Stiffness? An Exploratory Study JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 154 LP - 156 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.191405 VL - 48 IS - 1 AU - Anniek Maaike van Roon AU - Amaal Eman Abdulle AU - Douwe Johannes Mulder Y1 - 2021/01/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/48/1/154.abstract N2 - To the Editor:Treatment of digital ischemia in systemic sclerosis (SSc) remains a challenge. Although vasculopathy is generally thought to occur on a microvascular level, some observations suggest the involvement of medium-sized arteries as well. In patients with advanced disease, obliteration of the ulnar artery is frequently observed, associated with an adverse outcome1. A potential mechanism is arterial wall fibrosis. Arterial stiffness may be an easily identifiable sign of vasculopathy, early in the disease course, assessed noninvasively by pulse wave velocity (PWV). Although several studies have assessed aortic and upper extremity PWV in SSc, studies specifically on forearm PWV are limited2–8. Further, the effect of treatment on PWV has not been previously studied in SSc. Since endothelin-1 plays an important role in SSc vasculopathy and promotes arterial stiffness in animal models9, we hypothesize that the dual endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan may potentially improve arterial stiffness in SSc.This exploratory study compared PWV in patients with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) with age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) at baseline. Second, the effect of bosentan (62.5 mg twice daily, titrated to 125 mg twice daily after 1 mo if tolerated) was investigated on PWV … Address correspondence to Dr. A.M. van Roon, University Medical Center Groningen, Huispostcode AA41, Hanzeplein 1, Postbus 30 001, Groningen, the Netherlands. Email: a.m.van.roon01{at}umcg.nl. ER -