Abstract
Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between CEC count and endothelial function, disease activity, and organ involvement in patients with SLE. Background Premature atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is not explained by traditional risk factors. Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) have been identified as a surrogate marker of endothelial dysfunction Methods The present study included 30 premenopausal women with SLE and 20 age and sex matched healthy controls (HC). Endothelial function was studied by flow mediated vasodilation (FMD%) in the brachial artery. Serum levels of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 were measured. Results FMD% was lower in patients with SLE than HC (3.5 ± 0.4 vs 9.7 ± 3.2, p p r = 0.97), and negatively with FMD% ( r = −0.94). Serum levels of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were significantly elevated in patients with SLE compared to HC ( p p p p Conclusion CEC is associated with endothelial dysfunction, disease activity and increased VCAM-1 levels in patients with SLE. These findings suggest a potential role of CEC in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in these patients.
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