Indian Journal of Rheumatology
Volume 6, Issue 4 , Pages 178-184, December 2011

Study of endothelial dysfunction and its correlation with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus patients without conventional cardiovascular risk factors

  • Apurba Bikash Pramanik

      Affiliations

    • Senior Resident, Department of Medicine, Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata, India
    • ,
  • Kuntal Bhattacharyya

      Affiliations

    • Junior Resident, Department of Medicine, Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata, India
    • ,
  • Pradip Kumar Sinha

      Affiliations

    • Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata, India
    • ,
  • Rathindra Nath Sarkar

      Affiliations

    • Professor, Department of Medicine, Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata, India
    • Head, Rheumatology Division, Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata, India
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence: Dr. Rathindra Nath Sarkar
    • ,
  • Rudrajit Paul

      Affiliations

    • Senior Resident, Department of Medicine, Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata, India
    • ,
  • Runa Das

      Affiliations

    • Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata, India
    • ,
  • Siddhartha Mani

      Affiliations

    • Senior Resident, Department of Medicine, Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata, India
    • ,
  • Raja Bhattacharya

      Affiliations

    • Senior Resident, Department of Medicine, Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata, India

Article Outline

Abstract 

Background

Endothelial dysfunction is an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), causing atherosclerosis and its related complications, even in the absence of conventional cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective

The present study was aimed at finding the prevalence of endothelial dysfunction in SLE and its relation with disease activity.

Methods

Fifty SLE patients without traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and equal number of age and sex matched controls were chosen. Endothelial function was assessed by flow mediated vasodilatation (FMV) on brachial artery using B-mode ultrasonography.

Results

Mean age of SLE patients was 26.06 ± 6.231 years. Thirty-seven (74%) of the patients were having severe disease activity, defined as systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) >8. We found significantly lower levels of basal brachial artery diameter in SLE patients (0.3499±0.075 cm) compared to controls (0.3826 ± 0.0002cm), as also impaired FMV (2.57 ± 2.32% and 8.7082 ± 1.5776%, respectively). Flow mediated vasodilatation significantly correlated with SLEDAI (r=-0.52) and complement (C3) levels (r=0.33).

Conclusion

Endothelial dysfunction in SLE correlates with disease activity.

Keywords:  Endothelial dysfunction , SLEDAI , complement level , flow mediated vasodilatation

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PII: S0973-3698(11)60204-5

doi:10.1016/S0973-3698(11)60204-5

Indian Journal of Rheumatology
Volume 6, Issue 4 , Pages 178-184, December 2011

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