Association between Abnormal Lipid Levels and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

 Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that involves vital organs of the body. Studies have shownthat abnormal lipids may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate lipid profiles inlupus patients. This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated ۱۳۶ SLE patients who were referred to the RheumatologyClinic of Rafsanjan from October ۲۰۱۵ to September ۲۰۱۸. The data for the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) anddemographic information of all patients were entered in a researcher-created checklist, and serum lipid profiles were measuredin serum samples. The SLEDAI score of patients was ۱۳.۸ ± ۵.۹. Age had a significantly positive correlation with cholesterol(r = ۰.۲۲۴, p value = ۰.۰۰۹) and LDL (r = ۰.۲۵۶, p value = ۰.۰۰۳) levels as well as significantly negative correlation with HDLlevels (r = -۰.۴۸۹, p value = ۰.۰۲۳). Lipid profiles of patients with different levels of education showed no significant difference(p value = ۰.۱۷۴). In recently diagnosed patients, SLEDAI had a significantly positive correlation with cholesterol (r = ۰.۴۸۹,p value = ۰.۰۰۲) and LDL levels (r = ۰.۴۱۸, p value = ۰.۰۰۹) as well as a significantly negative correlation with HDL levels (r= -۰.۳۸۱, p value = ۰.۰۳۷). No significant correlation was observed between TG level and SLEDAI (p value = ۰.۱۱۴, r = ۰.۱۹).There was no significant difference in the SLEDAI score between subjects using lipid-lowering drugs and those without suchtreatment (p value = ۰۸۴۱). It seems that abnormal lipid levels are common in patients with SLE, and there is an associationbetween abnormal lipids and SLEDAI.

Keywords:

Cholesterol , Inflammation , Lipid , Systemic lupus erythematosus