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Peripheral vascular disease in systemic lupus patients.
Rayford R June1, Lisabeth V Scalzi
1From the *Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh; and †Division of Rheumatology, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University/Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
Summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have a higher prevalence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD), identified by ankle-brachial index (ABI). Smoking, not SLE itself, was the primary risk factor for PVD in this group.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a known cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor.
- Ankle-brachial index (ABI) measures peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and correlates with CVD risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine PVD prevalence in SLE patients.
- To identify PVD risk factors in SLE.
- To assess if SLE independently predicts PVD via ABI.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing SLE patients and controls without known CVD.
- Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) assessed using ankle-brachial index (ABI).
- Propensity score matching used to evaluate SLE as an independent PVD risk factor.
Main Results:
- Lower mean ABI (1.05 vs 1.09) and higher PVD prevalence (33% vs 20%) in SLE patients.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was not an independent risk factor for PVD.
- Smoking emerged as the sole significant risk factor for PVD in SLE patients.
Conclusions:
- Ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a practical tool for PVD screening in SLE.
- A 33% PVD prevalence was observed in SLE, strongly linked to smoking.
- Screening ABI in SLE patients, especially smokers, can aid cardiovascular risk assessment and management.
