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Blachut D, Przywara-Chowaniec B, Harpula J, Tomasik A, Nowalany-Kozielska E, Morawiec B. The effects of glucocorticoid treatment on cardiovascular system in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Arch Rheumatol 2022; 37:495-503. [PMID: 36879576 PMCID: PMC9985379 DOI: 10.46497/archrheumatol.2022.9255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study aims to assess variables concerning arterial stiffness including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, carotid-radial pulse wave velocity, ankle-brachial index, and the advancement of atherosclerosis development. Patients and methods Between October 2016 and December 2020, a total of 43 consecutive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (4 males, 39 females; mean age: 57±8 years; range, 42 to 65 years) were prospectively included in the study. All data were compared between the group treated with glucocorticoids and that not treated with these agents. Results The study group consisted of 43 patients with SLE, while 22 (51%) patients were treated with glucocorticoids. The mean duration of SLE was 12.3±5.3 years. Patients treated with glucocorticoids had lower values of ankle-brachial index compared to those who were not treated with glucocorticoids (p=0.041), although the values were within the range. A similar situation was reported for the carotid-femoral artery pulse wave velocity (p=0.032). However, carotid-radial artery pulse wave velocity was not significantly different between both groups (p=0.12). Conclusion Properly selected therapy is important in the prevention of CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Blachut
- nd Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
| | | | - Jan Harpula
- nd Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Andrzej Tomasik
- nd Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
| | | | - Beata Morawiec
- nd Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
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Liu Y, Yu X, Zhang W, Zhang X, Wang M, Ji F. Mechanistic insight into premature atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications in systemic lupus erythematosus. J Autoimmun 2022; 132:102863. [PMID: 35853760 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with a significant risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which substantially increases disease mortality and morbidity. The overall mechanisms associated with the development of premature atherosclerosis and CVD in SLE remain unclear, but has been considered as a result of an intricate interplay between the profound immune dysregulation and traditional CVD risk factors. Aberrant systemic inflammation in SLE may lead to an abnormal lipid profile and dysfunction, which can further fuel the pro-atherosclerotic environment. The existence of a strong imbalance between endothelial damage and vascular repair/angiogenesis promotes vascular injury, which is the early step in the progression of atherosclerotic CVD. Profound innate and adaptive immune dysregulation, characterized by excessive type I interferon burden, aberrant macrophage, platelet and complements activation, neutrophil dysregulation and neutrophil extracellular traps formation, uncontrolled T cell activation, and excessive autoantibody production and immune complex formation, have been proposed to promote accelerated CVD in SLE. While designing targeted therapies to correct the dysregulated immune activation may be beneficial in the treatment of SLE-related CVD, much additional work is needed to determine how to translate these findings into clinical practice. Additionally, a number of biomarkers display diagnostic potentials in improving CVD risk stratification in SLE, further prospective studies will help understand which biomarker(s) will be the most impactful one(s) in assessing SLE-linked CVD. Continued efforts to identify novel mechanisms and to establish criteria for assessing CVD risk as well as predicting CVD progression are in great need to improve CVD outcomes in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudong Liu
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Xue Yu
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Wenduo Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, PR China
| | - Fusui Ji
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, PR China.
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Kostopoulou M, Nikolopoulos D, Parodis I, Bertsias G. Cardiovascular Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Recent Data on Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Prevention. Curr Vasc Pharmacol 2020; 18:549-565. [DOI: 10.2174/1570161118666191227101636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is associated with increased risk for accelerated atherosclerosis
and cardiovascular (CV) events including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular and peripheral
artery disease. CV events occur both early and late during the disease course, with younger
patients being at much higher risk than age-matched counterparts. The risk cannot be fully accounted for
by the increased prevalence of traditional atherosclerotic factors and may be due to pathophysiologic
intermediates such as type I interferons and other inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, activated
granulocytes and production of extracellular chromatin traps, antiphospholipid and other autoantibodies
causing dysfunction of lipoproteins, altogether resulting in endothelial injury and pro-atherogenic
dyslipidaemia. These mechanisms may be further aggravated by chronic intake of prednisone (even at
doses <7.5 mg/day), whereas immunomodulatory drugs, especially hydroxychloroquine, may exert antiatherogenic
properties. To date, there is a paucity of randomized studies regarding the effectiveness of
preventative strategies and pharmacological interventions specifically in patients with SLE. Nevertheless,
both the European League Against Rheumatism recommendations and extrapolated evidence from
the general population emphasize that SLE patients should undergo regular monitoring for atherosclerotic
risk factors and calculation of the 10-year CV risk. Risk stratification should include diseaserelated
factors and accordingly, general (lifestyle modifications/smoking cessation, antihypertensive and
statin treatment, low-dose aspirin in selected cases) and SLE-specific (control of disease activity, minimization
of glucocorticoids, use of hydroxychloroquine) preventive measures be applied as appropriate.
Further studies will be required regarding the use of non-invasive tools and biomarkers for CV assessment
and of risk-lowering strategies tailored to SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrto Kostopoulou
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Dionysis Nikolopoulos
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Parodis
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet and Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - George Bertsias
- Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Rheumatology and Allergy, University of Crete Medical School, Iraklio, Greece
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The mechanisms leading to the development of premature atherosclerosis and vascular injury in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remain to be fully elucidated. This is a comprehensive review of recent research developments related to the understanding of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in lupus. RECENT FINDINGS SLE patients with lupus nephritis display significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction and CVD mortality than SLE patients without lupus nephritis. SLE disease-related parameters could be taken into consideration when calculating CVD risks. The type I interferon pathway is detrimental to the vasculature and may contribute to the development of insulin resistance. The level of low-density granulocytes, a distinct subset of proinflammatory neutrophils present in SLE, was independently associated with coronary plaque burden and endothelial dysfunction. Invariant natural killer T cells may promote an atheroprotective effect in SLE patients with asymptomatic atherosclerotic plaques. Oxidized lupus high-density lipoprotein promotes proinflammatory responses in macrophages. SUMMARY Recent discoveries have further strengthened the critical role of SLE-related immune dysregulation and metabolic disturbances in promoting accelerated CVD. Understanding how these pathogenic factors promote vascular injury may provide better molecular candidates for therapeutic targeting, and ultimately to improve CVD outcomes.
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