Evaluation Of Epicardial Fat Thickness, A New Indicator Of Cardiovascular Risk Factor, In Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

INTRODUCTION: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disease with high cardiovascular mortality. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAD) is the visceral fat located between the myocardium and the pericardium. EAD is recognized as an active metabolic and inflammatory tissue capable of producing and releasing various proatherosclerotic and proinflammatory hormones, cytokines. EAD has been associated with coronary artery disease, metabolic syndrome and subclinical atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate relationship between EAD and SLE patients.
METHODS: A total of 73 patients were recruited from the rheumatology department of a single center as a case-control study. The participants were divided into two groups: 73 patients with SLE (group 1), and 60 age- and sex-matched controls (group 2). Laboratory and radiology results were obtained from the electronic registration database. Data were analyzed and compared between groups.
RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age, gender, height, weight or BMI. EAD was found significantly higher in SLE patients compared to control group. In the SLE group, EAD was found significantly higher in patients with low complement levels compared to those without. There was positive correlation between EAD and age, leukocytes, neutrophils, CRP and BMI, but negative correlation was found between SLEDAI.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Increased EAD was found in SLE patients compared to the control group. Besides, a correlation was found between increased EAD and low complement and CRP. EAD may be a measurable and modifiable potential therapeutic target associated with inflammation and cardiovascular risk in patients with SLE.