ECE2006 Poster Presentations Diabetes, metabolism and cardiovascular (174 abstracts)
1Asclepeion Hospital, Athens, Greece; 2Metaxa Hospital, Pireaus, Greece.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial multisystem autoimmune disorder. Although the survival of SLE patients has been improved with the administration of immunomodulatory therapy, patients seem to suffer from complications of the disease such as atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein Lp(a) is a known risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.
The aim was to evaluate lipoprotein Lp(a) and its relationship with disease activity in patients with SLE.
Patients with SLE, n=32, aged 2358 years and healthy controls, n=32 were included in the study. In patients and controls the levels of hematocrit, hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, antinuclear antibodies, complement, anti-DNA antibodies, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and Lp(a) were measured.
The levels of Lp(a) (normal values <30 mg/dl) were found increased in 9 of 32 patients (28.1%) and in 4 of 32 controls (12.5%). Within the SLE cohort 7 of the 9 patients with increased Lp(a) levels had active disease and renal involvement.
Lipoprotein Lp(a) levels were higher in patients with SLE. Increased Lp(a) levels seemed to correlate with disease activity. Increased Lp(a) levels may contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.