scholarly journals Premature Aortic Atherosclerosis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Controlled Transesophageal Echocardiographic Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
CARLOS A. ROLDAN ◽  
JOSEPH JOSON ◽  
JANEEN SHARRAR ◽  
CLIFFORD R. QUALLS ◽  
WILMER L. SIBBITT

Objective.Premature carotid and coronary atherosclerosis are common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but data on aortic atherosclerosis (AA) are limited. Thus, using multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), we sought to determine the prevalence and clinical correlates of AA in patients with SLE.Methods.Forty-seven patients with SLE (44 women, age 38 ± 12 years) and 21 healthy controls (19 women, age 34 ± 12 years) underwent clinical and laboratory evaluations and TEE to assess AA defined as aortic intima media thickness (IMT) > 0.86 mm or plaques as > 50% focal IMT as compared with surrounding walls. TEE studies were interpreted by an experienced observer unaware of subjects’ clinical data.Results.The prevalence of abnormal aortic IMT, plaques, or both lesions was higher in patients as compared to controls (37%, 23%, and 43% vs 14%, 0%, and 14%, respectively, all p ≤ 0.02). In patients, age at diagnosis of SLE was the only positive independent predictor of AA [OR 1.12 per year from diagnosis of SLE, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.19, p = 0.001] and cyclophosphamide therapy was the only negative independent predictor of AA (OR 0.186, 95% CI 0.153–0.95, p = 0.04, equivalent to 5.4 times less likely to develop AA).Conclusion.AA is common in young patients with SLE and is predicted by a later age at diagnosis of SLE, but is negatively correlated with cyclophosphamide therapy. Thus, early diagnosis and more aggressive immunosuppressive therapy may be required to decrease the development and progression of atherosclerosis in patients with SLE.

Lupus ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 096120332110103
Author(s):  
Alfonso Ragnar Torres Jimenez ◽  
Nayma Ruiz Vela ◽  
Adriana Ivonne Cespedes Cruz ◽  
Alejandra Velazquez Cruz ◽  
Alma Karina Bernardino Gonzalez

Shrinking Lung Syndrome (SLS) is a rare and little known complication associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), characterized by progressive and unexplainable dyspnea, pleuritic pain, small pulmonary volumes and elevation of the diaphragm on chest X-rays as well as restrictive pattern on pulmonary function tests. Objective To describe clinical, radiological and treatment characteristics in pediatric patients with SLS. Material and methods This is a descriptive and retrospective study in patients under 16 years old with the diagnosis of SLE complicated by SLS at the General Hospital. National Medical Center La Raza. Clinical, radiological and treatment variables were analyzed. Results are shown in frequencies and percentages. Results Data from 11 patients, 9 females and 2 males were collected. Mean age at diagnosis of SLS was 12.2 years. Age at diagnosis of SLE was 11.1 years. SLEDAI 17.3. Renal desease 72%, hematological 91%, lymphopenia 63%, mucocutaneous 72%, neurological 9%, arthritis 54%, serositis 91%, fever 81%, secondary antiphospholipid syndrome, low C3 72%, low C4 81%, positive ANA 91%, positive anti-DNA 91%. Regarding clinical manifestations of SLE: cough 81%, dyspnea 91%, hipoxemia 81%, pleuritic pain 71%, average oxygen saturation 83%. Chest X-rays findings: right hemidiaphragm affection 18%, left 63%, bilateral 18%. Elevated hemidiaphragm 91%, atelectasis 18%, pleural effusion 91%, over one third of the cardiac silhouette under the diphragm 36%, bulging diaphragm 45%, 5th. anterior rib that crosses over the diaphragm 91%. M-mode ultrasound: diaphragmatic hypomotility 100%, pleural effusion 63%. Pulmonary function tests: restrictive pattern in 45% of the cases. Treatment was with supplementary oxygen 100%, intubation 18%, antibiotics 100%, steroids 100%, intravenous immunoglobulin 54%, plasmapheresis 18%, cyclophosphamide 54% and rituximab 18%. The clinical course was favorable in 81%. Conclusions SLS should be suspected in patients with SLE and active disease who present hipoxemia, pleuritic pain, cough, dyspnea, pleural effusion and signs of restriction on chest X-rays. Therefore, a diaphragmatic M-mode ultrasound should be performed in order to establish the diagnosis.


Lupus ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Cacciapaglia ◽  
EM Zardi ◽  
G Coppolino ◽  
F Buzzulini ◽  
D Margiotta ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. CCRep.S9143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamal A Albishri

Chorea is a rare manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report on a young patient with chorea who was diagnosed initially with rheumatic fever. Follow up and further evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of SLE and anti-phospholipid syndrome. Of special interest were the negative antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies and the initial diagnosis of rheumatic fever which is still not uncommon problem in our region. The rarity of such presentation with joint and non specific increase of antistreptolysin O (ASO) titer might be the factors that led to an incorrect diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment of SLE and anti-phospholipid syndrome are very crucial and should be considered with such presentation.


Lupus ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 1670-1678 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Frostegård ◽  
C Hellström ◽  
P Nilsson ◽  
A G Frostegård ◽  
S Ajeganova

Objectives In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) there are typically many autoantibodies. The disease heterogeneity could be better understood with discovery of phenotype-specific antigens targeted by autoantibodies. We here aimed to identify novel autoantigens potentially related to SLE disease and a major complication, atherosclerosis. Methods Antigen microarrays were used to profile IgG autoantibody reactivity against 77 protein fragments (20–140 amino acids (aa) long, median 89 aa) produced within the Human Protein Atlas project, in serum samples from SLE patients ( n = 107) and age- and sex-matched population-based controls ( n = 107). Common carotid intima-media thickness, plaque occurrence and echogenicity were determined by B-mode ultrasound. Results We determined significant differences between patients and controls in IgG reactivity against four proteins. In patients compared to controls, there was an increase of IgG reactivity against zinc finger protein 688 (ZNF688), early B cell factor 2 (EBF2), crystallin, alpha B (CRYAB) and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 13C (TNFRSF13C). Of these four antigens, only anti-ZNF688 was associated with carotid atherosclerosis (plaque occurrence) and vulnerable plaques in SLE. There was a weak association between anti-EBF2 and SLE disease activity but no significant associations were determined for other measured IgG reactivity. Conclusions In this discovery screening we here demonstrate new candidate autoantigens with differential reactivity (reflecting autoantibody levels) in SLE patients and in controls and in relation to atherosclerosis in SLE.


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