Rheumatology Advance Access originally published online on February 10, 2004
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Rheumatology 2004; 43: 510-513
Rheumatology Vol. 43 No. 4 (c) British Society for Rheumatology 2004; all rights reserved
Clinical |
Association of biological markers of activity of systemic lupus erythematosus with levels of anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein antibodies
Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, 1Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Service, Carlos Haya University Hospital, Malaga, Spain.
Correspondence to J. M. Gómez-Zumaquero. E-mail: jmgz{at}ole.com
Objectives. To study the levels of anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at two different points during the disease, and evaluate their relation with markers of SLE activity in serial blood samples. To investigate the correlations at two points in time between anti-oxidized LDL antibodies and anti-ß2-glycoprotein-I antibodies, leucocytes, immunoglobulin G, anti-deoxyribonucleic acid, complement 3, complement 4 and the disease activity index.
Methods. A total of 49 patients with SLE according to ACR criteria were studied at two points, 3 to 4 months apart, Time 1 and Time 2.
Results. There were ostensible changes in levels of anti-oxidized LDL antibodies between Times 1 and 2, which correlated significantly with disease activity markers. The association between levels of anti-oxidized LDL antibodies and complement system activation remained after multiple regression analysis with stepwise adjustment.
Conclusions. Antibody levels against oxidized LDL vary with time and are closely related to the degree of SLE activity. There is an association between levels of autoantibodies to oxidized LDL and complement system activation.
KEY WORDS: Systemic lupus erythematosus, Oxidized LDL antibodies, Activity markers.