title: Analyzing the frequency and significance of the metabolic syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Evaluation of: Chung CP, Avalos I, Oeser A et al. High prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: association with disease characteristic and cardiovascular risk factors. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 66(2), 208-214 (2007). Systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with higher rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, related to accelerated atherosclerosis. This additional clinical complication can be attributed to traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, use of corticosteroids and might also be the result of inflammatory mechanisms, all of which are aggravated in lupus patients. In this regard, inflammation is not only associated with systemic lupus patients but is also present in patients with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. The paper under evaluation examined the hypothesis that patients with lupus have a higher prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and that there is an association of the metabolic syndrome with other cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Hospital de Especialidades Centro Médico La Raza, Seris y Zaachila S/N. Colonia La Raza, CP: 02990, Mexico City, Mexico. luis_jara_quezada@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Luis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Jara
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vega-Hinojosa