title: The role of preventive cardiology in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: With improved therapeutic advances in the care of systemic lupus erythematosus patients, cardiovascular disease has emerged as a leading cause of death. Premature atherosclerosis in lupus patients is probably an interaction between traditional cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory factors, and factors related to lupus itself. Despite knowledge of this accelerated cardiac risk, evaluation of traditional risk factors has been sub-par. We propose that lupus patients be evaluated by preventive cardiologists and have access to their expertise and resources. In addition to nephrologists and dermatologists, preventive cardiologists should be an integral part of the care of patients with lupus.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, S727 Biomedical Sciences Tower, 3500 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. elliottjr@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer Rae
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manzi
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edmundowicz
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011315:Preventive Medicine