Cardiovascular morbidity and evaluation of aterosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have a significantly increased risk of coronary heart disease. Increased prevalence of atherosclerosis may explain part of this enhanced risk. The aim of the work: to determine the prevalence of the subclinical atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis traditional risk factors in systemic lupus erythematosus patients versus controls. Patients and methods: It was performed a prospective and descriptive study with systemic lupus erythematosus patients from two medical institutions, and a control healthy group. The follow-up was for two years (2010-2012). This study involved 57 adult female systemic lupus erythematosus (91.9 %) and 5 male systemic lupus erythematosus (8.1 %). The control group comprised 54 healthy adult females. This investigation involved 62 systemic lupus erythematosus patientswith mean age 40.9 years. The control group comprised 60 healthy adult with mean age 40.4 years. The most prevalent age range in both groups was 35-44 years. Results: atherosclerotic plaque lesions were seen in 22 patients (35.5 %), from whom 14 % had some coronary event. Among 10 healthy adult with atherosclerotic plaque, only one had coronary heart disease (10 %). Association of traditional risk factors just as: hypertension (p=0.003) and dyslipidemia; hypercholesterolemia (p=0.038) with atherosclerotic plaque lesions was observed. Conclusions: subclinical and clinical atherosclerosis was more common in systemic lupus erythematosus patients versus control group. Traditional risk factors: hypertension and dyslipidemia; hypercholesterolemia, showed association with atherosclerotic plaque lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.