Immune alterations and endothelial dysfunction in patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome comorbid with hypertension

Abstract

A complete physical examination of 145 patients with various forms of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and 30 patients of control group was performed in order to solve the aims and objectives of the research. The HAVS forms included 1st stage HAVS associated with local vibration, 2nd stage HAVS associated with local vibration, 2nd stage HAVS associated with local vibration comorbid with hypertension, 1st stage HAVS associated with general vibration, 2nd stage HAVS associated with general vibration, 2nd stage HAVS associated with general vibration comorbid with hypertension. It was observed that endothelial dysfunction in HAVS, especially when comorbid with hypertension, is accompanied by immune alterations such as humoral immunity factors and cytokines imbalance and is characterized by pro-inflammatory cytokine levels increase (IL -1β, IL -8, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokine level decrease (IL-4) from exposure to production vibration regardless of its type especially when comorbid with hypertension. It is proven that in isolated HAVS associated with local or general vibration, especially when comorbid with hypertension, endothelial dysfunction is characterized by increase of endothelin-1 serum level and growth factors such as transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and vascular endothelial growth factor А (VEGF-A) increase. Increase of endothelin-1 serum level in patients with HAVS is associated with hemostatic alterations such as platelet-derived growth factor ВВ (PDGF-BB), fibronectin, and Willebrand factor increase.