Cardiovascular conditions in persons with multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica and transverse myelitis (2018) Saroufim et al

[Webdog]

Cardiovascular conditions in persons with multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica and transverse myelitis (2018) Saroufim et al

Abstract:
https://www.msard-journal.com/article/S2211-0348(18)30220-7/abstract

Summary article:
Hypertension More Common in MS Patients Than General Public, Study Reports
https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday....nts-compared-to-general-public-study-reports/

People with multiple sclerosis are 48 percent more likely to have high blood pressure compared to the general population — and to people with other demyelinating diseases, a new study reports. Its researchers also emphasize that hypertension is already linked to poorer outcomes in MS patients.

Because of the link between cardiovascular ills and MS disease severity, they also recommend further studies to better “characterize the causal mechanisms underlying the associations between cardiovascular conditions and adverse MS outcomes; and to examine if similar associations exist in NMOSD and TM.”

 

[Woolie]

This is really interesting, @Webdog. It certainly fits, given what we know about the relationship between inflammatory blood markers like CRP and cardiovascular risk. Since MS is characterised by episodes of intense inflammation, it makes sense this would take a toll on the cardiovascular system.

Its very possible that the same relation exists in ME. But it might be hard to demonstrate any such relationship, because people are probably more likely to be diagnosed with MECFS if they have high socioeconomic status (many lower SES folks will probably just give up trying to get heard, long before they get a diagnosis). And high SES is protective against cardiovascular risk.