[Antiendothelial cell antibodies as a risk factor of atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus].
OBJECTIVE
It was confirmed experimentally that antiendothelial cell antibodies (AECA) react directly with the vascular endothelium and are involved in the pathogenesis of vasculitis. There is evidence for a role of AECA in atherosclerosis. To search for correlations between intima-media thickness (IMT) and high titer of AECA in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
IMT of carotid arteries was measured with B-mode ultrasound in 103 SLE patients and 30 healthy subjects (control group). The presence of AECA was determined with indirect immunofluorescence using human umbilical vein endothelial cells as target. Statistical analysis was performed with chi2 Yates, chi2 Pearson, R Spearman rank test, and logistic multivariate regression analysis.


RESULTS
Normal IMT (< or = 0.65 mm) was found in 34 patients. In 52 patients, IMT was 0.66-0.86 mm and in 17 it exceeded 0.86 mm. The difference in comparison with the control group was significant (p = 0.0002). High titers of AECA were significantly more frequent in patients with SLE than in controls (p = 0.0001). In SLE patients, high titers of AECA correlated with IMT greater than 0.86 mm (OR = 6.61; 95% CI: 1.6-28.3).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of antiendothelial cell antibodies is a risk factor for premature, subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with SLE.
Fischer
Katarzyna
K
Klinika Reumatologii Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej ul. Unii Lubelskiej 1, 71-252 Szczecin.
Brzosko
Marek
M
Walecka
Anna
A
Ostanek
Lidia
L
Sawicki
Marcin
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; C087589:anti-endothelial cell antibody