Serum lipids and apolipoproteins in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Effect of disease activity

ABSTRACT

Fifteen female patients with systemic lupus erythematous [SLE] were grouped into 2 groups Group IA included 10 patients with disease activity and group IB included 5 patients without activity. Ten healthy female control subjects were also selected and represented group II. The following tests were performed for all subjects: Complete blood picture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], serum complement C3 [C3], circulating immune complexes [CICs]; these were used as tests to detect disease activity. Also, fasting serum lipids and apolipoproteins were determined for all subjects; total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], very low density lipoprotein cholesterol [VLDL-C], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], triglycerides and apolipoproteins A and B [apo A and B]. Patients with SLE with activity showed significant leucopenia, hypocomplementemia, decrease in C3 and increase of CICs. They also showed a dyslipoproteinemia of the type that increases the risk of atherosclerosis in the form of significantly increased levels of VL DL-C and triglycerides, and decreased level of apo A; statistically significant differences were obtained when compared to the SLE patients without activity or to the normal controls. However, no differences were detected between the latter groups. Also, a statistically significant negative correlation was found between the CICs and apo A, and a positive correlation between the C3 and apo A. These data strongly suggested the interaction between the humoral immunologic parameters and the different fractions of serum lipids and apolipoproteins which may have a role in the predisposition of SLE patients to atherosclerosis