Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) have been repeatedly showed to be correlated with premature atherosclerosis. The increased arterial stiffness and endothelium dysfunction may cause premature aging of the arteries in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the association of PWV and its markers, AIx, has not been linked to SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and inflammatory cytokines in SLE women. 57 women diagnosed with SLE and 31 healthy women were consequently included in the study and both groups were compared according to age, body mass index (BMI), serum lipid profile, creatinine, cardiac parameters, blood pressure. Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 10 (IL-10), neopterin, and ADMA were assayed. In SLE women, PWV was significantly higher (p=0.04), and AIx was not different from controls (p=0.136). In linear multiple stepwise regression analysis, when patients and controls were both considered, PWV was weakly related to age (p=0.001), waist circumference (p=0.003), LDL-cholesterol (p=0.018), ADMA (p=0.042). Although, when the individual SLE setting was analyzed, PWV was not related to organ damage measured by SLEDAI (p=0.4), ADMA (p=0.361), TNF-α (p=0.893), IL-10 (p=0.686), and neopterin (p=(0.444)). PWV was significantly related to mean blood pressure (MBP) (p=0.001), age (p=0.001), disease duration (p=0.001) and glucocorticoid (p=0.014). Our data suggest that controlling MBP and appropriate indications of low doses steroids can partially slow down the process of early atherosclerosis in female patients diagnosed with SLE.
Key words: Arterial stiffness, asymmetric dimethylarginine, interleukin 10, neopterin, systemic lupus erythematosus, tumor necrosis factor-alpha
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