Asymptomatic Coronary Artery Calcifications in Men with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

To determine whether the prevalence and extent of asymptomatic coronary artery atherosclerosis are increased in men with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with age- and sex-matched controls, and to define the associated risk factors.

Ninety-five patients with SLE (mean ± SD age, 34.7 ± 10.1 yrs) and 100 control subjects (age 34.8 ± 9.7 yrs) with no history of coronary artery disease were screened for coronary artery calcification using multidetector computed tomography. The extent of calcification was measured using the Agatston score. The frequency of risk factors for calcification was compared between patients and controls, and the relationship between clinical and immunological characteristics and the presence of coronary artery calcification was investigated.

Coronary artery calcification was more frequent in patients than controls [18% vs 7%, respectively (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.07-8.65)]. These factors were independently associated with the presence of calcifications: age (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.20), SLE diagnosis (OR 3.38, 95% CI 1.07-10.64), diabetes mellitus (OR 6.88, 95% CI 1.50-31.62), Framingham risk score (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.00-1.23), and glomerular filtration rate (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-1.00). Among patients with SLE, coronary artery calcifications were observed starting at age 32 years, within 2.3 years of diagnosis. Increasing age (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.06-1.31), Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics score (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.21-6.73), and cumulative dose of prednisone (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.08) were independent risk factors.

Men with SLE are at an increased risk of coronary artery calcifications than age- and sex-matched controls. Among patients with SLE, the increased risk is associated to older age, increasing chronic damage, and cumulative dose of corticosteroids.