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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
06:59
Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2019
The SLICC inception cohort for atherosclerosis
Murray B Urowitz1, Dafna D Gladman
1University of Toronto Lupus Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Room 1E-409, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, Canada. m.urowitz@utoronto.ca
Current Rheumatology Reports
|July 30, 2008
Summary
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) research identified key risk factors for cardiovascular disease in lupus patients. Older age, male sex, and hypertension were associated with increased vascular events in this cohort.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) is an international consortium focused on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- SLICC has expertise in developing and validating disease indices for SLE.
- The SLICC Registry for Atherosclerosis was established in 2000 to investigate cardiovascular disease in SLE patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence, prevalence, nature, and risk factors of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in SLE.
- To analyze risk factors for coronary artery disease at cohort presentation and their accumulation over time.
- To describe the development of metabolic syndrome in SLE patients.
Main Methods:
- Establishment and utilization of the SLICC Registry for Atherosclerosis.
- Prospective cohort study of SLE patients.
- Analysis of patient demographics, clinical data, and vascular events.
Main Results:
- Among 1078 patients, 61 vascular events occurred in 47 patients.
- Patients experiencing vascular events were older at diagnosis, more likely male, and hypertensive.
- Risk factors for coronary artery disease were identified at presentation and tracked over time.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular disease is a significant concern in SLE patients.
- Specific demographic and clinical factors increase vascular event risk in SLE.
- Ongoing studies using the SLICC cohort continue to explore SLE-related cardiovascular complications.
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