title: Impairment of arterial distensibility in premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting young women and is associated with increased frequency of atherosclerotic vascular diseases. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an index of arterial stiffness and a marker of cardiovascular events. This study aimed to investigate arterial distensibility using carotid-femoral (aortic) PWV measurements in premenopausal women with SLE.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 24 premenopausal women with SLE (SLE duration: 5.3+/-4.6 years) and 24 age- and sex-matched controls. Aortic PWV was determined by using an automatic device, the Complior Colson (France), which allowed on-line pulse wave recording and automatic calculation of PWV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The carotid-femoral PWV (8.98+/-2.05 vs. 8.05+/-0.94 m/s), systolic blood pressure (117.08+/-17.12 vs. 106.87+/-11.96 mmHg), pulse pressure (45.62+/-11.91 vs. 38.33+/-9.04 mmHg), heart rate (81.41+/-9.20 vs. 71.12+/-10.32 beat/min) and serum glucose levels (89.68+/-8.12 vs. 73.80+/-10.72 mg/dl) were significantly higher in premenopausal women with SLE, as compared with control subjects (p=0.04, p=0.02, p=0.02, p=0.001, p <0.001, respectively). We found a significant correlation between PWV and age, body mass index, waist--to-hip ratio, heart rate and blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arterial distensibility is decreased in premenopausal women with SLE.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology and Internal Medicine Plc, Educational, Training and Research Centre, Sakarya University School of Health, Bayar Cad, Gülbahar Sok, Emniyet Sitesi No:11 A Blok A Kapisi Daire 6, Kozyatag i, Istanbul, Turkey. mustafayilldiz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Banu Sahin
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soy
authors.forename: Hava
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tutkan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017697:Premenopause