Article Text
Abstract
Background: With improved survival rates of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), damage such as accelerated atherosclerosis gains increasing importance.
Objective: To identify the prevalence of coronary artery calcifications (CAC) in asymptomatic patients.
Methods: Electron beam tomography (EBT) was performed in 75 female patients with SLE aged <50. The results were correlated with traditional and SLE related factors associated with CAC. 49 women with symptomatic coronary heart disease (CHD) and 279 women without CHD were also analysed.
Results: Overall, 21/75 (28%) patients had CAC. Low HDL cholesterol levels <1.40 mmol/l (p=0.03, OR=1.8, 67% v 39%) and cigarette smoking (p=0.01, OR=5.7, 76% v 44%) were identified as factors associated with CAC. Hypertension and high cholesterol were more common in women with CHD (p<0.01) than in those without CHD. SLE related factors were proteinuria (1331 v 465 mg/day, p=0.02), impaired renal function (p=0.02, OR=2.6, 26% v 6%), and high C3 levels (p=0.04, OR=1.8, 65% v 38%). High C3 levels were also more common in symptomatic CHD (p=0.02). The prevalence of Sm antibodies was lower in patients with CAC (15% v 42%, p=0.03). In a multivariate analysis, cigarette smoking, reduced renal function, high C3, and a cumulative steroid dose above 30 g were the most important CAC associated factors in the lupus cohort.
Conclusion: A subgroup of patients with SLE with CAC without any clinical symptoms of CHD was identified by EBT. Therefore, EBT is useful for assessing asymptomatic atherosclerosis in this group.
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- atherosclerosis
- coronary artery calcification
- electron beam tomography
- ACR, American College of Rheumatology
- BMI, body mass index
- CAC, coronary artery calcification
- CHD, coronary heart disease
- CRP, C reactive protein
- EBT, electron beam tomography
- ECLAM, European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement
- HDL, high density lipoprotein
- LDL, low density lipoprotein
- SDI, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology damage index
- SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus