@article{fdi:010089496,
  title = {{A}ssociation between arterial stiffness and {L}oa loa microfilaremia in a rural area of the {R}epublic of {C}ongo : a population-based cross-sectional study (the {M}or{L}o project)},
  author = {{C}ampillo, {J}. {T}. and {D}upasquier, {V}. and {L}ebredonchel, {E}. and {R}anc{\'e}, {L}. {G}. and {H}emilembolo, {M}. {C}. and {P}ion, {S}{\'e}bastien and {B}oussinesq, {M}ichel and {M}issamou, {F}. and {M}artin, {A}. {P}. and {C}hesnais, {C}{\'e}dric},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground{L}oa loa filariasis (loiasis) is still considered a relatively benign disease. {H}owever, recent epidemiologic data suggest increased mortality and morbidity in {L}. loa infected individuals. {W}e aimed to examine whether the density of {L}. loa microfilariae (mfs) in the blood is associated with cardiovascular disease.{M}ethodology{U}sing a point-of-care device (p{O}pmetre), we conducted a cross-sectional study to assess arterial stiffness and peripheral arterial disease ({PAD}) in 991 individuals living in a loiasis-endemic rural area in the {R}epublic of the {C}ongo. {M}icrofilaremic individuals were matched for age, sex and village of residence with 2 amicrofilaremic subjects.{W}e analyzed markers of arterial stiffness ({P}ulse-{W}ave {V}elocity, {PWV}), {PAD} ({A}nkle-{B}rachial {I}ndex, {ABI}) and cardiovascular health ({P}ulse {P}ressure, {PP}). {T}he analysis considered parasitological results ({L}. loa microfilarial density [{MFD}], soil-transmitted helminths infection, asymptomatic malaria and onchocerciasis), sociodemographic characteristics and known cardiovascular risk factors (body mass index, smoking status, creatininemia, blood pressure).{P}rincipal findings{A}mong the individuals included in the analysis, 192/982 (19.5%) and 137/976 (14.0%) had a {PWV} or an {ABI} considered out of range, respectively. {O}ut of range {PWV} was associated with younger age, high mean arterial pressure and high {L}. loa {MFD}. {C}ompared to amicrofilaremic subjects, those with more than 10,000 mfs/m{L} were 2.17 times more likely to have an out of range {PWV} (p = 0.00). {F}actors significantly associated with {PAD} were older age, low pulse rate, low body mass index, smoking, and {L}. loa microfilaremia. {F}actors significantly associated with an elevation of {PP} were older age, female sex, high average blood pressure, low pulse rate and {L}. loa microfilaremia.{C}onclusion{A} potential link between high {L}. loa microfilaremia and cardiovascular health deterioration is suggested. {F}urther studies are required to confirm and explore this association.},
  keywords = {{CONGO}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{PL}o{S} {N}eglected {T}ropical {D}iseases},
  volume = {18},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {e0011915 [17 p.]},
  ISSN = {1935-2735},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0011915},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010089496},
}