title: Traditional and non traditional risk factors in accelerated atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus: role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGATS Study).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  We have enrolled 80 SLE female patients and 80 age-matched healthy control females who underwent a structured interview, physical examination, routine laboratory tests, VEGF plasma level determination and B-mode ultrasonography of carotid arteries to determine carotid intima media thickness (IMT). Framingham risk factors for cardiovascular events were also calculated and VEGF plasma levels were correlated with traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SLE was significantly associated with higher mean IMT values (0.74+/-0.15 mm versus 0.59+/-0.12 mm in controls, p<0.001) and higher mean plasma VEGF levels (307.9+/-292.2 pg/mL versus 120.7+/-118.4 pg/mL in controls, p<0.001) independently from age, smoking habits, and Framingham risk factors. A significant correlation was also found between IMT and VEGF values (r=0.25; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We show that SLE patients have increased mean IMT and VEGF values as compared with healthy age-matched controls and that IMT and VEGF values are independently and directly associated with SLE disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy. bmcolombo@libero.it
authors.forename: Barbara Maria
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cacciapaglia
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puntoni
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murdaca
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pisciotta
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertolini
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moccetti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dentali
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steidl
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afeltra
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Indiveri
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Puppo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A