Abstract:
Objectives
Lipid profiles appear to be altered in SLE patients due to disease activity and inflammation. Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is the ability of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to accept cholesterol from macrophages. CEC has been linked to cardiovascular events in the general population and is impaired in SLE patients. The aim of this study was to establish whether CEC is related to subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in SLE patients.
Methods
The present report is of a cross-sectional study that encompassed 418 individuals: 195 SLE patients and 223 controls. CEC, using an in vitro assay, and lipoprotein serum concentrations were assessed in patients and controls. Carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques were evaluated in SLE patients. A multivariable analysis was performed to study the relationship of CEC to SLE-related data, lipid profile and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.
Results
CEC was downregulated in SLE patients [8.1 (4.2) % vs 16.9 (10.4) %, P = 0.004). This occurred independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, statin use or other variations in the lipid profile related to the disease. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors, both in...