Increased carotid atherosclerosis and carotid artery stiffness according to the disease duration and activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective: The ᅵink among carotid intimamedia thickness (IMT), vascular elastic property and the disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is not well defined. We investigated the association between carotid atherosclerosis, elastic properties of the carotid arterial wall and clinical parameters of SLE. Methods: Fifty-one SLE patients and fifty healthy controls were included. Peak systolic global circumferential and posterior radial strains of carotid artery were measured to assess the elastic properties. Beta stiffness index was used as conventional method for the distensibility of the carotid artery. Information concerning SLE duration, cumulative dose of steroids and/or immunosuppressive drug intake was recorded, and SLE activity was assessed by SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) score. Results: Carotid plaques were more common in SLE patients. SLE patients with plaques were 㢌der and showed the increased mean ᅵMT, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs CRP), IgG anti-cardi㢌ipin antibody (aCL), and longer disease duration compared with those without plaques. Peaksyst㢌ic global circumferential and posterior radial strain as well β stiffness index were significantly lower in SLE group. Age, disease duration, hsCRP, IgG aCL showed significant correlations with mean ᅵMT and parameters of carotid elastic property (all P's<0.05). Conclusions: Carotid atherosclerosis was more common in SLE patients, and carotid arterial stiffness had significant correlation with disease duration, hsCRP and IgG aCL level. Speckle tracking strain imaging is a comparative method for the assessment of elastic properties of carotid artery of SLE patients.