title: Long-term improvement of lipid profile in patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus treated with B-cell depletion therapy: a retrospective observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lipid abnormalities contribute to the increased risk of premature atherosclerosis in patients with SLE. This study was undertaken to investigate changes in lipid profile after B-cell depletion therapy (BCDT) in patients with active SLE who had failed standard immunosuppressive therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with refractory SLE treated with BCDT based on rituximab (two biweekly infusions of 1 g) were examined. Lipid profile and lupus activity were measured before the infusions and 1 year later. The control group consisted of 26 age- and sex-matched lupus patients not treated with BCDT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study group, the mean levels of total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterols were 4.6, 1.4 and 2.4 mmol/l at baseline and changed to 4.1, 1.6 and 2.0 mmol/l (P = NS, P = 0.04 and P = NS) at 1 year, respectively. The atherogenic index was 3.8 at baseline and decreased to 2.7 (P = 0.02). The triglyceride (TG) level was 2.1 mmol/l at baseline and decreased to 1.3 mmol/l (P = 0.04). BCDT was followed by a significant decrease in global BILAG scores and a drop in the mean dose of prednisolone at 1 year (P = 0.01). Reduction in disease activity was significantly associated with a reduction in total cholesterol and TG levels and an increase in HDL cholesterol levels. In the control group, there were no differences in any of the lipid determinations over a 1-year period. CONCLUSION. This provisional observational study suggests a favourable long-term effect of BCDT on the lipid profile of patients with refractory SLE, which correlated with decreasing activity of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hospital do Meixoeiro (Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo), Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain. jose.maria.pego.reigosa@sergas.es
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pego-Reigosa
authors.forename: Tim Y-T
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Manuela F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fontanillo
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: del Campo-Pérez
authors.forename: Anisur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Isenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013995:Time; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D000069283:Rituximab