Quantitative echo-tracking technique for evaluating carotid arterial elasticity function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinical value of early diagnosis of atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using vascular echo-tracking technique and to detect changes of elastieity of carotid artery quantitatively in SLE patients.Methods Fifry patients with SLE were divided into SLE1 group(duration≤1 year),and SLE2 group(duration>1 year)based on different course.An ultrasonic echo-tracking method was used to measure patients'pressure strain elastic modulus (Ep),the stiffness constant(β),arterial compliance(AC),augmentation index(AI),pulse wave velocity (PWVβ) and intimamedia thickness(IMT)of the common carotid arteries in 50 patients with SLE and in 25 healthy control subjects.Results Among carotid artery elasticity indicators of three groups,there was no significant difference in AI(P>0.05).Ep,β,PWVβ parameters of SLE1 group and SLE2 group were statistically higher than that of the control group[Ep of SLE1 group,SLE2 group,control group was (69±20),(103±40),(48±18)kPa respectively;β was 5.2±1.9,8.0±3.1,4.2±1.3 respectively;PWVβ was 5.2±0.7,6.3±1.1,4.5±0.7]respectively,but AC(AC of SLE1 group,SLE2 group,control group was(1.1±0.3),(0.8±0.3),(1.2±0.6)mm2/k respectively]lower than the controls(P<0.01).Ep,β,PWVβ in SLE2 group was significantly increased compared with SLE1 group,but AC was decreased (P<0.01).Conclusion The application of echo-tracking technology can be used to diagnose early atherosclerosis.Complications of cardiovascular disease in SLE have high clinical value.