Article

Coronary artery calcification common with lupus

The prevalence and extent of vascular calcification over the thoracic aorta and coronary and carotid arteries are greater in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) than in healthy persons. Because the process of atherosclerosis related to SLE disease activity is diffuse and widespread rather than limited to the coronary arteries, coronary calcification used alone as a marker for atherosclerosis may not disclose the association.

The prevalence and extent of vascular calcification over the thoracic aorta and coronary and carotid arteries are greater in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) than in healthy persons. Because the process of atherosclerosis related to SLE disease activity is diffuse and widespread rather than limited to the coronary arteries, coronary calcification used alone as a marker for atherosclerosis may not disclose the association.

Yiu and associates used multidetector CT to compare the prevalence and pattern of subclinical calcified plaque in persons with SLE versus controls. None of the 100 study participants had a history of cardiovascular disease.

Patients with SLE had the highest mean coronary, carotid, aortic, and total calcification scores (CS). They were significantly more likely than controls to have a CS higher than 0 in coronary and carotid arteries, the aorta, and any vascular bed. Calcification was most pronounced in the coronary arteries, followed by the carotid and aortic arteries. Only the patients with SLE had simultaneous calcification over the thoracic aorta and coronary and carotid arteries.

The authors noted that their findings have important implications for the understanding of the premature atherogenesis process and provide a cornerstone for future studies.

Related Videos
Comparing Treatment Options for Psoriatic Arthritis with Philip Mease, MD
Considering Viral Infections in Patients With Rheumatic Disease With Leonard Calabrese, DO
Leonard H. Calabrese, DO, Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair, Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
Alvin Wells, MD, PhD: Making Informed Treatment Decisions With New Testing Strategies
Alvin Wells, MD, PhD
Upcoming Research in PsA, AxSpa, with Philip Mease, MD
Philip Mease, MD, Clinical Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine and Director, Rheumatology Research, Swedish Medical Center
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.