Phase angle could be a marker of microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis

•Vascular endothelial growth factor is significantly higher in systemic sclerosis than in healthy controls.•Phase angle is significantly lower in systemic sclerosis than in healthy controls.•A significant positive correlation is found between vascular endothelial growth factor and phase angle.•Phase angle decreases with progression of digital microvascular damage. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction with fibrosis of skin and internal organs. Integrity of the endothelial cell is important to its physiologic function such as production of angiogenetic factors. The aim of this study was to assess whether phase angle (PhA) is altered in patients with SSc and whether its values correlate with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and digital microvascular damage. Patients with SSc and matched healthy controls underwent VEGF determination and bioimpedentiometry (BIA) for PhA assessment. Clinical assessment, disease activity index (DAI), disease severity scale, and nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NCV) were performed in patients with SSc. Fifty-five patients (46 women) with a mean age of 53.2 ± 13.7 y were studied. The mean value of VEGF was significantly higher in patients with SSc than in the healthy controls (240.3 ± 149.5 versus 139 ± 87.5; P = 0.035). The mean value of PhA was significantly lower in the patient grouop than in the healthy controls (4.51 ± 0.87 versus 5.22 ± 0.55; P < 0.0001). A significant positive correlation was found between VEGF and PhA (P = 0.009, beta coefficient = 1.48) in SSc patients. A negative correlation between VEGF and DAI (P = 0.048, β coefficient = 0.48) was found. PhA median value was significantly (P = 0.006) lower in patients with late pattern SSc (4.2 [2.5–5.3]). PhA median value was significantly (P < 0,0001) lower in patients with digital ulcers (DUs; 4.2 [2.5–5.3]) than in those without DUs (3.80 [2.50–5] versus 4.75 [2.80–7.3]). These data were confirmed in both female and male patients. The evaluation of VEGF with PhA, NVC, and DUs could be useful to estimate cellular and microvascular damage in patients with SSc.