Journal of Inflammation Research

Cardiovascular Involvement in Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases: From Clinical Manifestations to Biomarkers and Precision Risk Assessment

The Journal of Inflammation Research is pleased to welcome you to submit your research to the Article Collection "Cardiovascular Involvement in Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases: From Clinical Manifestations to Biomarkers and Precision Risk Assessment".

Systemic connective tissue diseases comprise a group of autoimmune disorders characterized by chronic immune dysregulation and systemic inflammation, with potentially significant cardiovascular involvement. Although cardiovascular manifestations may vary across diseases, they can include accelerated atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, myocardial and pericardial involvement, pulmonary vascular disease, arrhythmias, and valvular abnormalities. Importantly, cardiovascular complications may develop subclinically and remain undetected until advanced disease or major cardiovascular events occur. The complex interplay between persistent inflammation, autoimmunity, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, disease-specific features, and treatment-related factors may contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Growing evidence suggests that conventional cardiovascular risk assessment may underestimate this burden in patients with systemic connective tissue diseases. Therefore, increasing attention is being directed toward early identification of cardiovascular involvement, characterization of disease-specific risk factors, and the development of reliable biomarkers and personalized approaches to cardiovascular risk assessment.

This Article Collection will focus on current approaches to cardiovascular assessment in systemic connective tissue diseases. Topics will include cardiovascular risk stratification, early detection of subclinical disease, imaging methods, novel biomarkers, and emerging risk prediction models. We also welcome studies on personalized prevention and management, including the use of new technologies and artificial intelligence. Original Research, Review, and Systematic Review articles are welcome.

Keywords: Cardiovascular involvement; Systemic connective tissue diseases; Cardiovascular risk assessment; Biomarkers; Precision medicine

Meet the Guest Advisors

Dr. J. Kosałka-Węgiel is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, and a Senior Assistant Physician at the University Hospital in Kraków. Her clinical and research work focuses on systemic autoimmune diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, myositis, and vasculitis. Her scientific interests include the identification of biomarkers of disease activity and progression, immune mechanisms involved in autoimmune diseases, and the assessment of vascular and endothelial abnormalities. She has led and contributed to research projects investigating lupus nephritis, systemic sclerosis, interstitial lung disease, and factors associated with disease outcomes. She is also involved in international research collaborations and multicenter clinical studies in rheumatology and clinical immunology.

Dr. K. Batko is a resident physician at the Department of Dermatology and Allergology. He is involved in academic and clinical research since 2018, with extensive interdisciplinary cooperation and joint research projects conducted with Rheumatology, Nephrology and Cardiology units from across Poland, Europe and the United States.

Dr. K. Polak-Kokoszka is a specialist in dermatology. Her main clinical and research interests focus on systemic connective tissue diseases and their dermatological manifestations. She is particularly interested in the diagnosis and management of patients with autoimmune systemic diseases.