Rho YH et al. - Concentrations of adhesion molecules and TNF-α are associated with coronary atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) independent of the Framingham risk score. Methods
Study to find the relationship between the mediators of inflammation and accelerated atherosclerosis associated with an inflammatory disease such as SLE
Concs of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1α, and VEGF), inflammatory enzymes (MPO and MMP-9), acute-phase reactants (ESR, CRP, and SAA) and adhesion molecules (VCAM, ICAM, and E-selectin) in 109 pts with SLE and 78 controls were compared
The relationship between inflammatory markers and coronary atherosclerosis detected as calcified plaque by electron beam CT was determined in SLE pts
Results
Concs of all markers of inflammation other than VCAM, MMP-9, and IL-1α were higher in SLE
Cumulative corticosteroid dose, and diabetes, E-selectin, VCAM, ICAM, and TNF-α were associated with the severity of coronary calcium
