Soluble CD154 is not associated with atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus

Soluble CD154 (sCD154) is involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as well as in the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. We determined the association of sCD154 with coronary calcium and carotid plaque at the baseline visit of the Lupus Atherosclerosis Prevention Study.

Serum samples were assayed for soluble CD154 by ELISA. Coronary calcium was measured by helical computed tomography. Carotid duplex was performed to measure carotid plaque.

sCD154 was measured in 183 patients with SLE. Patients had a mean age of 48.8 +/- 10.5 yrs, and 92% were female. Ethnicity included 61% Caucasian, 34% African American, 2% Asian, and 2% Hispanic. sCD154 was not associated with carotid plaque (p = 0.45) nor with coronary calcium (p = 0.43). Indeed, those with carotid plaque had a trend toward lower levels of sCD154 (474 +/- 29.2 vs 526 +/- 5 pg/ml; p = 0.45).

sCD154 is not associated with subclinical measures of atherosclerosis in SLE, including carotid plaque and coronary calcium.