title: Association of arterial events with the coexistence of metabolic syndrome and primary antiphospholipid syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is highly prevalent in rheumatic diseases and is recognized as a new independent cardiovascular risk factor. This study was undertaken to determine the clinical significance of MetS in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one primary APS patients and 73 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Serum samples were tested for lipid profile, Lp(a), glucose, insulin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free T4, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, and uric acid. MetS was defined by the International Diabetes Federation criteria, and insulin resistance was established using the homeostasis model assessment index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of MetS was 33.8%, and further comparison between primary APS patients with and without MetS revealed that the former had a higher frequency of arterial events (79.2% versus 42.6%; P = 0.003), angina (29.2% versus 2.1%; P = 0.002), and positive lupus anticoagulant antibody (95.8% versus 76.6%; P = 0.049). In addition, primary APS patients with MetS, as expected, had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. On multivariate analysis, only MetS was independently associated with arterial events in primary APS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coexistence of primary APS and MetS seems to identify a subgroup of patients with higher risk of arterial events, suggesting that MetS may aggravate existing endothelial abnormalities of primary APS.
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Ewerton Maia
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonfá
authors.forename: Maria Teresa Correia
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Caleiro
authors.forename: Margarete B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Vendramini
authors.forename: Cleonice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: Jaqueline B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Jozélio Freire
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose