ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were the identification of the abnormalities in lipid profiles and the correlations between serum lipid profiles and inflammatory parameters in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS: The subjects were 50 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who have been treated in rheumatology clinic, Yeungnam University Hospital. Serum lipids and apolipoproteins were measured and compared with those of age- and sex-matched controls. In systemic lupus erythematosus group, disease activities were assessed by systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. RESULTS: All lipid profiles were within normal range but most of lipoprotein levels were higher in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus than controls. Triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein and very-low-density lipoprotein were statistically significant (p=0.001, p=0.023, and p=0.001 respectively). Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were significantly increased in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with proteinuria (>or=100 mg/dL/24hr) than in patients without proteinuria. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein had positive correlations and apolipoprotein A-II had negative correlation with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index. Low-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein B had positive correlations, high-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein A-II had negative correlations with erythrocyte sedimentation rate. But differences of lipid profiles according to the duration of disease and total doses of steroid were not significant. CONCLUSION: This study showed that triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and very-low-density lipoprotein in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were higher than controls. Total cholesterol and LDL in patients with SLE had positive correlations with disease activities.