title: Metabolic syndrome in lupus patients in northeast of Iran, and their lifestyle habits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic lupus erythematous is an autoimmune disease associated with atherosclerotic manifestations or metabolic disturbance due to inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine frequency of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in SLE compared to healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 150 SLE patients and 220 healthy volunteers were enrolled. MetS was diagnosed according to ATPIII criteria. Patients and controls were compared according to prevalence of MetS. In addition, SLE patients with and without MetS were compared according to laboratory parameters. Each patient also fulfilled a checklist about routine daily activities and diet program. Data were analyzed by SPSS-11 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MetS was significantly lower in SLE than healthy controls (18% vs 29.1%, P=0.015). Disease manifestations, major organ involvement, serum values of complements and anti-DNA antibody and pharmacological therapy did not correlate with MetS occurrence in patients. The mean TG, FBS, systolic and diastolic BP were statistically higher in lupus patients compared to healthy volunteers in contrast to waist circumference. HDL-cholesterol serum values did not show any significant difference between two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that despite higher values of blood pressure, serum lipids and glucose in lupus patients, the cumulative metabolic components were in a manner to make MetS more prevalent in healthy volunteers. As far as life habits are concerned, lupus patients in general did not exercise enough and did not go on a healthy diet despite of glucocorticoid therapy and hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hatef-Fard
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khodabandeh
authors.affiliation: Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahebari
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry and Nutrition Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghayour-Mobarhan
authors.affiliation: Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rezaieyazdi
keywords: Diet; Exercise; Life style; Lupus; SLE; Systemic lupus erythematosus; metabolic syndrome