ABSTRACT
Introduction:-Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of many different systems. Epidemiological studies showed an increase of cardio and cerebrovascular events in patients suffering from systemic autoimmune diseases, and autoptic investigations pointed out that an accelerated atherosclerotic process is largely responsible for such manifestations. Both symptomatic as MI [myocardial infarction] and asymptomatic as atherosclerotic [carotid plaque] diseases are more prevalent in SLE patients than in the general population. There were positive correlations between CD69 [one of type I IFN-regulated genes in platelets] level and cardio vascular complications in these patients
Objective:-To determine the level of CD69 andC3 in patients with systemic lupus erthematosus and to find the relationship between CD69 andC3 levels and cardio vascular complications in these patients
Methods:-Twenty systemic lupus erthromatosis patients were included in this study were selected from internal medicine in and out-patient clinics of Al-Zahraa university hospital, ten patients suffering of SLE with no cardio vascular disease [Group1] and ten patients suffering of SLE with cardio vascular disease [Group 2], Ten healthy individuals of matched age and sex were selected as control group. All systemic lupus patients were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, ECG, complete blood picture, liver function, renal function, ANA, dDNA, serum complement 3, and CD69 on platelets were done
Results:-The expression ofCD69 on platelets was significantly higher in patient of SLE with cardiovascular complication group than control group[p0.0071],and there was a significant increases in the serum level of C3 of SLE with cardiovascular complication group than in patient of SLE without cardiovascular complication group [p=0.000005]. Also we found that the serum level of C3 lower in patient of SLA group with and without cardiovascular complication than control group [p=0.009] [0.00009]
Conclusion:-These finding suggest that Platelets with CD69 expression seem to more activated and may contribute to development of vascular complication in patients of SLE so CD69 expression on platelets may serve as predictive marker of CVD complication in patients with SLE