Euro-Phospholipid on Line

Official Web-site of the "European Forum on Antiphospholipid Antibodies"

MULTICENTRE STUDIES

PRESENCE OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN PATIENTS (PTS) WITH PRIMARY (PAPS), SECONDARY ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME (SAPS)  AND SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE) : A COMPARATIVE STUDY.

 

COORDINATORS

 

Martyna Meissner, Hanna Chwalinska-Sadowska, *Bożena Wojciechowska,* *Jakub Zabek,***Grzegorz Malek, ***Witold Tomkowski

Department of Connective Tissue Diseases, *Central Laboratory,**Department of Mikrobiology and Serology. Institute of Rheumatology named Prof.Eleonora Reicher, ***Intensive Care Department of Cardiology,Institute of Tuberculosis and Pulmonary        Diseases, Warsaw, Poland

 

PROJECT

 

Background: Fifty percent of mortality in Europe and USA is caused by atherosclerosis. There is a similarity between atherosclerosis and APS regarding clinical complication and cellular and humoral activity. Little is known about the prevalence of  developing premature atherosclerosis in PAPS and SAPS pts, a little more in SLE pts.

 

Objective: To evaluate the presence of  atherosclerosis in PAPS, SAPS and SLE pts.

To asses which of the clinical and serological parameters of APS is the most related with developing of atherosclerosis. Traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis were also analyzed.

 

Methods: Three groups of patients were analyzed:

  1. 30 SLE pts - control
  2. 30 SAPS pts
  3. 25 PAPS pts

To asses atherosclerosis Doppler USG examination of carotid arteries and measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT) were performed. All patients were examined concerning traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis. Clinical and serological findings of three (SLE, SAPS, PAPS) groups of pts were evaluated concerning of the presence of atherosclerosis.

 

Results: Atherosclerosis (carotid leasions; plaque or IMT) appeared in similar amount in SAPS and PAPS pts, but statistically more often then in SLE pts (SAPS vs SLE <0,01, PAPS vs SLE <0,01, PAPS vs SAPS=0,1).

There were no statistical correlation between clinical parameters of APS and atherosclerosis between three examinated groups of pts.

However in SAPS pts presence of venous thrombosis correlated with atherosclerosis (p=0,0457). There were strong correlation between the presence of thrombosis and atherosclerosis (p=0,004) detected in whole group of 85 pts (30SLE, 30 SAPS, 25 PAPS).

There were no correlation between APS serological parameters and the presence of atherosclerosis between three groups of pts. However in SAPS pts absence of aCL IgM were connected with atherosclerosis (p=0,0259).

Regarding traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis in SAPS pts hyperlipidemia (p=0,072)

and age (p=0,0182) correlated with the presence of atherosclerosis.

Conclusion: Presence of APS may point to atherosclerosis. Precise determination of the most important parameters linking both diseases needs future study.

For additional information and applications, please e-mail: martymeissner@poczta.wp.pl

Web contens: EWPSLE Info Desk.

 

Last updated: 17 November 2005