| Summary: | Background: Arterial stiffness is increased with chronic inflammatory disorders. The reduction of inflammation by immunomodulatory therapy is associated with a restoration of arterial function.
Objectives: To determine whether carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) is increased in subjects with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Data sources. A systematic literature search for arterial stiffness in IBD was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar databases (last accessed on 11 June 2015). The search terms were “arterial stiffness,” “vascular stiffness” or “pulse wave velocity” in combination with “inflammatory bowel disease,” “inflammatory bowel diseases,” “Crohn’s disease” or “ulcerative colitis.”
Study eligibility criteria. Inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed publications reporting original data; a minimum of 10 subjects tested; and cf-PWV measured via validated devices.
Participants. Adults with IBD.
Methods: Publications with titles or abstracts appearing to meet the inclusion criteria were selected for detailed review. These articles were reviewed by two authors according to PRISMA 2009 guidelines.
Results: A total of 9 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria (234 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), 342 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 435 control patients). One study only included patients with UC. Arterial stiffness was significantly increased in subjects with IBD in 8 studies and slightly but not significantly increased in subjects with IBD in one study.
Conclusions: Current cross-sectional studies suggest that arterial stiffness is increased in IBD subjects. Longitudinal studies are required to confirm preliminary data showing a reversibility of arterial stiffening by anti-TNF-alpha therapy.
Systematic review registration number: CRD42015017364.
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