Aim: This study was designed for evaluating the relationship between dyslipidemia and diseases activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.
Introduction: In spite of high prevalence of dyslipidemia in SLE patients and its role in patients’ cardiovascular events, there was scant study about the relation between dyslipidemia and disease activity in SLE patients in Iran.
Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted during 2014–2016 on SLE patients who referred to the Hasheminejad hospital (Tehran – Iran). The serum levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, and HDL were measured, then dyslipidemia and correlated factors were evaluated. The activity of disease was determined by SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI).
Results: 62 out of 72 patients (87%) were female and the mean age was 34 years. The median disease duration was 1 year and 49% of patients had active disease (SLEDAI≥6). Proteinuria and nephritis were observed in 18% and 24%, respectively. 62% of patients had at-least one abnormality in their lipid profile. High cholesterol (>200mg/dL), high triglyceride (>150md/dL), high LDL (>130mg/dL) and low HDL (<50mg/dL in females and <40md/dL in males) levels were observed in 25%, 42%, 20% and 49% of patients, respectively. Patients with active disease had lower age and disease duration in comparison of others (P<0.05), while there were no differences in terms of sex and weight between patients in active and inactive phases (P>0.05). The frequency of proteinuria, nephritis and decreased level of complements were higher in active SLE patients, too. Patients with active disease had also higher levels of serum cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL and lower level of serum HDL. In logistic regression, the odds ratios of patients with high cholesterol, using more than 10mg/day prednisolone and with low serum HDL level for having active disease were 6.6, 5.6 and 3.4, respectively (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Our findings showed that dyslipidemia is prevalent in SLE patients especially in patients with active SLE disease. In addition, patients with high cholesterol, using more than 10mg/day prednisolone and with low HDL had higher chance for having active disease. Hence, it seems that there is a relation between disease activity and lipid profile abnormalities in SLE patients.