Lupus Research Report: Heart disease, lupus genetics, and lupus biomarker
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November 16, 2012
Lupus Research Report
Steroid-Related Risk of Heart Disease in Lupus
Individuals with lupus are at increased risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease as compared to those from the general population, even after adjustment for traditional risk factors (such as high blood pressure or cholesterol). However, whether this occurs due to lupus disease activity, lupus-related autoantibodies, and/or the use of specific kinds of medications is unclear. The results of this study indicate that current use of steroids (20 mg/day or more) is perhaps the most significant risk factor for heart disease in individuals with lupus. These findings suggest that, in these individuals, the short-term impacts of steroids are, in general, even more influential in determining heart disease risk than the cumulative dose over time.
Read more>> Genetics of Lupus-Related Phenotypes
Genetic factors play a significant role in the susceptibility to developing lupus, but the relationship of genetic risk factors to lupus-related phenotypes (such as the presence or absence of specific autoantibodies) has remained largely unexplored. This study utilized both genetic data from lupus patients and data from public genetic databases to relate genetic lupus susceptibility to specific lupus-related phenotypes in European and African-American lupus patients. The results indicate that distinct sets of autoantibodies are associated with specific genetic risk variants in European and African-American lupus patients. These findings highlight that lupus can manifest in unique ways in people of different ethnic origins and that this can be at least partially related to genetic factors.
Read more>> C-Reactive Protein as a Lupus Biomarker
C-reactive protein (CRP) has been studied as a lupus biomarker, but its exact role in lupus is yet to be elucidated. Most studies of CRP in lupus were unable to detect levels below a certain threshold, which may have limited the accuracy of the results. This study examines the role of CRP with the use of more sensitive methods that can detect very low levels of CRP (high sensitivity C-reactive protein, or hsCRP). The results of this study indicate that hsCRP is detectable in 77% of patients with clinically active lupus. In addition, hsCRP levels correlate with specific facets of lupus disease activity and with a number of factors related to increased cardiovascular disease risk.
Read more>> |
The Lupus Research Report, a free enewsletter from the Lupus Foundation of America, provides reviews of recently published papers from significant medical journals translated into understandable language, information about advances in lupus research and clinical studies, and other relevant news for individuals with an interest in lupus. The commentary aims to put research findings into perspective, explain the limits to the conclusions that can be drawn, and examine the possibilities for future research directions. This is an exciting time in lupus research, so it is important for everyone in the lupus community to be fully informed about ongoing studies and developments and what they might mean.
Graciela S. Alarcón, M.D., M.P.H., Medical AdvisorEmeritus Jane Knight Lowe Chair of Medicine
University of Alabama, Birmingham |
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