title: Carotid intima-media thickness and plaque as surrogate biomarkers of atherosclerosis among consecutive women with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, there has been a growing interest in understanding the pathogenic pathways of premature accelerated atherosclerosis (AS) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the role of both traditional and non-traditional, SLE-specific risk factors is still under debate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess surrogate biomarkers of subclinical AS in SLE and to evaluate potential relations with cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study on 35 consecutive SLE women (ACR 1987 diagnostic criteria) evaluated according to a standard protocol including traditional cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, abnormal lipid metabolism), SLE-specific risk factors (renal disease, SLE activity and duration, corticosteroid therapy) and surrogate biomarkers of subclinical AS (carotid intima-media thickness, plaque) (B-mode color Doppler ultrasound, 7-10 MHz probe). Data were analyzed in SPSS 16 software, p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences (p<0.05) among subgroups (with and without plaque, thickened and normal intima) have been registered; moreover, statistical significant correlations between cIMT and age (r=0.476), age at onset (r=0.451), VLDL (r=0.382), hsCRP (r=0.436), Framingham score (r=0.421) have been reported. In addition, significant association between homocysteine and SLE-duration (r=0.460), SLEDAI (r=0.466), SLICC÷ACR (r=0.846) has been demonstrated, while hsCRP was associated with ESR (r=0.472), C3 (r=0.396), SLEDAI (r=0.569) and age (r=-0.681). Several predictors for increased cIMT have also been identified (ANOVA): hsCRP (p=0.016), VLDL (p=0.037), Framingham (p=0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data advocate for increased cardiovascular burden in SLE and support the value of cIMT and carotid plaque as surrogate AS biomarkers in women with SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iassy, Romania.
authors.forename: Codruţa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belibou
authors.forename: Codrina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ancuţa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ancuţa
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Filoş
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chirieac
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers