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Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation
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Study of early atherosclerosis in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation volume 44, pages 11–16 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate early atherosclerotic changes in juvenileonset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) patients and its relation with disease activity.

Patients and methods

Thirty patients suffering from jSLE diagnosed according to the 2012 SLICC SLE criteria were included in the study. Clinical and laboratory parameters, disease activity, and traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis were assessed. B-mode ultrasound was performed to measure carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) and the number and size of plaque deposits in both the left and the right common carotid arteries. A total of 20 healthy volunteers were taken as a control group.

Results

The mean±SD age of the patients was 18.93±2.81. The mean±SD disease duration was 4.33±2.25. The mean±SD CIMT differed significantly between the patient and control (n=20) groups (0.74±0.21 vs. 0.38±0.05; P<0.001). The presence of lymphopenia, serum creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein was positively associated with the progression of CIMT (P=0.049, P=0.02, P≤0.001, P≤0.001, and P=0.006, respectively).

Conclusion

In patients with jSLE, some traditional and nontraditional risk factors such as increased low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, total cholesterol, BMI, fasting blood sugar, and proteinuria for the development of subclinical atherosclerosis were identified. It is likely that good disease control is the optimum way to prevent premature atherosclerosis in jSLE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, El Kalyiobia Governorate, Benha, Egypt

    Emtethal A. Said Ahmed (Colleague of Rheumatology, MD in Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Benha), Sahar S. Ganeb, Ahmed Y. El-shambaky & Mai Y. Tohamy

  2. Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

    Osama T. Galal

Authors
  1. Emtethal A. Said Ahmed
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  2. Sahar S. Ganeb
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  3. Ahmed Y. El-shambaky
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  4. Osama T. Galal
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  5. Mai Y. Tohamy
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Correspondence to Emtethal A. Said Ahmed.

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Ahmed, E.A.S., Ganeb, S.S., El-shambaky, A.Y. et al. Study of early atherosclerosis in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Egypt Rheumatol Rehabil 44, 11–16 (2017). https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-161X.200835

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-161X.200835

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