Decreasing Serum Adropin Levels in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case-Control Study

Systematic lupus erythematosus is a complex fundamental autoimmune disease with relapsing-remitting course and spectrum of disease ranging from mild to life-threatening illness. Approximately half of women diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are affected by obesity, with rates reaching up to 50%. Adropin, a peptide hormone, plays a crucial role in regulating lipid and glucose metabolism while exhibiting protective effects against oxidative stress and inflammation. It further modulates the immune response. Given these functions, our study aimed to explore variations in the serum levels of adropin among patients diagnosed with SLE. Additionally, we sought to investigate its association with coronary risk factors and the clinical manifestations of the disease.

In this cross-sectional study, we included 59 SLE patients and 30 age-matched healthy individuals. Utilizing high sensitivity human ELISA kits, we measured serum adropin levels.

The SLE group exhibited significantly lower serum adropin levels compared to the control group (0.41 vs. 0.69 ng/mL, p = 0.001). In SLE patients with hyperlipidemia, hypertension (HTN), nephritis, serositis, hypocomplementemia, and positive anti-phospholipid antibodies (APLAs), serum adropin levels were significantly lower. However, female SLE patients showed higher serum adropin level. A significant and negative correlation was observed between serum adropin levels and disease duration. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that serum adropin levels retained association with HTN and positive APLAs.

Our study revealed a significant decrease in serum adropin levels among patients with SLE compared to healthy controls. The independent association between serum adropin levels and HTN suggests that adropin may serve as a potential predictor of coronary artery disease in individuals with rheumatic diseases. Results deepen our understanding of adropin in SLE, emphasizing its clinical relevance for assessing cardiovascular risk in this population.