Catestatin as a Novel Biomarker for Cardiovascular and Microvascular Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis

Assiut University

Status: Begins enrollment in 8 months

Conditions: Systemic Sclerosis

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07209644

Serum Catestatin

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigates the relationship between serum catestatin levels and systemic sclerosis (SSc), with a focus on cardiovascular involvement and microvascular alterations, to determine catestatin's potential as a biomarker of disease activity and severity.

Full description

Systemic sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis, autoimmunity, and vasculopathy, with cardiovascular complications accounting for a significant proportion of morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in diagnostic tools, early identification of high-risk patients remains challenging. Catestatin, a peptide derived from chromogranin A, has recently gained attention as a biomarker with regulatory roles in cardiovascular physiology, including hypertension, endothelial function, and vascular remodeling. This cross-sectional study will assess serum catestatin levels in patients with SSc compared with healthy controls. It aims to correlate these levels with disease activity indices, cardiovascular involvement (using echocardiography, ECG, and blood pressure monitoring), and microvascular abnormalities identified via nailfold capillaroscopy. Findings from this study may establish catestatin as a promising biomarker, paving the way for improved management and cardiovascular risk stratification in SSc patients.

Enrollment: 70 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis according to 2013 ACR-EULAR classification criteria.

Age >18 years.

Exclusion criteria

• Other autoimmune disorders.

Cardiovascular conditions not linked to systemic sclerosis.

Comorbidities affecting catestatin metabolism (e.g., diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity).

Trial design

70 participants in 2 patient groups

Systemic Sclerosis Arm

Description:

Patients with systemic sclerosis (n=35), assessed for disease activity, catestatin levels, cardiovascular involvement, and microvascular changes.

Control Arm

Description:

Healthy controls (n=35), evaluated for serum catestatin levels to provide a baseline reference.