Publications of Faculty of Medicine:DETECTION OF CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AND ITS RELATION TO RISK FACTORS: Abstract

Title:
DETECTION OF CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AND ITS RELATION TO RISK FACTORS
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Abstract:

Objective: to detect early atherosclerotic changes in SLE patients and to evaluate its relation to traditional cardiovascular risk factors and lupus-related factors. Subjects & Methods: Forty female SLE patients were included in this study. Their age ranged from 20 to 63 years. All of them were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination, laboratory investigations, disease activity assessment using SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDA1) and assessment of SLE-related disease damage according to the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) damage index. Intitna-media thickness (IMT) and carotid plagues were measured with carotid B-mode ultrasound. Risk factors associated with carotid plaques and IMT were determined. Tltey included traditional cardiovascular \ risk factors, SLE-related disease factors and inflammation markers. Results: Eighteen^ patients out of the \4O (45%) had plaques. Those patients Hjere statistically significantly (p<0.05) older and had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, greater body mass index, higher levels of total cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (CRP) than patients without plaques. The patients with plaques had a statistically significant (p<0.05) longer disease ShN1- :!•,•.i.ii.'r'] •I . .*. duration, higher SLICC damage score and longer duration of prednisone use than those without plagues. The mean level of IMT of the CCA showed a statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in SLE patients as compared to controls. The IMT was statistically highly significantly (p