Relationship between plasma interleukin-18 concentration and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus / 国际检验医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the relationship between interleukin-18(IL-18)and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods A total of 59 female SLE patients were divided into three groups,according to the IL-18 concentration≤200 pg/mL(group A),>200-350 pg/mL(group B),>350 pg/mL(group C).The cardiovascular risk fac-tors including body mass index(BMI),systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure(DBP),fasting insulin and glucose,blood lip-id,brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV),and plasma homocysteine(Hcy)were determined in all patients.Results Compared with group A patients whose plasma IL-18 level was the lowest,the levels of insulin,triglyceride,Hcy and values of homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)were significantly higher in SLE patients of group C,whose plasma IL-18 level was the highest(P <0.05).Conclusion In patients with SLE,the synergistic effects of hyperinsulinaemia,insulin resistance,hyper-homocysteinaemia,and vascular stiffness most likely contribute to the elevation of plasma IL-18 concentrations.