Cardiovascular events and risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Review

Importance

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and immune-mediated injury to multiple organ systems, including the mucocutaneous, musculoskeletal, hematologic, and kidney systems. Approximately 3.4 million people worldwide have received a diagnosis of SLE.

Observations

Approximately 90% of people with SLE are female. Although there are no uniformly accepted diagnostic criteria for SLE, the 2019 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (formerly the European League Against Rheumatism)/American College of Rheumatology classification criteria developed for scientific study are an estimated 96.1% sensitive and 93.4% specific for SLE. These classification criteria include both clinical factors, such as fever, cytopenia, rash, arthritis, and proteinuria, which may be indicative of lupus nephritis; and immunologic measures, such as SLE-specific autoantibodies and low complement levels. Approximately 40% of people with SLE develop lupus nephritis, and an estimated 10% of people with lupus nephritis develop end-stage kidney disease after 10 years. The primary goal of treatment is to achieve disease remission or quiescence, defined by minimal symptoms, low levels of autoimmune inflammatory markers, and minimal systemic glucocorticoid requirement while the patient is treated with maintenance doses of immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive medications. Treatment goals include reducing disease exacerbations, hospitalizations, and organ damage due to the disease or treatment toxicity. Hydroxychloroquine is standard of care for SLE and has been associated with a significant reduction in mortality. Treatments in addition to hydroxychloroquine are individualized, with immunosuppressive agents, such as azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclophosphamide, typically used for treating moderate to severe disease. Three SLE medications were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration: belimumab (for active SLE in 2011 and for lupus nephritis in 2020), voclosporin (for lupus nephritis), and anifrolumab (for active SLE).

Conclusions and Relevance

Systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with immune-mediated damage to multiple organs and increased mortality. Hydroxychloroquine is first-line therapy and reduces disease activity, morbidity, and mortality. When needed, additional immunosuppressive and biologic therapies include azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, belimumab, voclosporin, and anifrolumab.

A predictive model for premature atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus based on clinical characteristics

OBJECTIVE

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with a significant risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, especially in the development of premature atherosclerosis. Specific prediction models for premature atherosclerosis in SLE patients are still limited. The objective of this study was to establish a predictive model for premature atherosclerosis in SLE.

METHOD

The study collected clinical and laboratory data from 148 SLE patients under the age of 55, between January 2021 and June 2023. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression model was utilized to identify potentially relevant features. Subsequently, a nomogram was developed using multivariable logistic analysis. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated through a receiver-operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

A total of 148 SLE patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study, of whom 53 patients (35.81%) met the definition of premature atherosclerosis. Hypertension, antiphospholipid syndrome, azathioprine use, duration of glucocorticoid, and age of patients were included in the multivariable regression. The nomogram, based on the non-overfitting multivariable model, was internally validated and demonstrated sufficient clinical utility for assessing the risk of premature atherosclerosis (area under curve: 0.867).

CONCLUSIONS

The comprehensive nomogram constructed in this study serves as a useful and convenient tool for evaluating the risk of premature atherosclerosis in SLE patients. It is helpful for clinicians to early identify SLE patients with premature atherosclerosis and facilitates the implementation of more effective preventive measures. Key Points • SLE patients are at a significantly higher risk of developing premature atherosclerosis compared to the general population, and this risk persists even in cases with low disease activity. Traditional models used to evaluate and predict premature atherosclerosis in SLE patients often underestimate the risk. • This study establishes a comprehensive and visually orientated predictive model of premature atherosclerosis in SLE patients, based on clinical characteristics. • The scoring system allows for convenient and effective prediction of individual incidence of premature atherosclerosis, and could provide valuable information for identification and making further intervention decision.

Accumulation of Microvascular Target Organ Damage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Is Associated with Increased Cardiovascular Risk

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototype autoimmune disease associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) burden. Besides increased arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis, microvascular dysfunction is considered an important component in the pathophysiology of CV disease. However, there is a lack of data regarding the effect of multiple target organ damage (TOD) on CV health. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate (i) the presence of microvascular changes in SLE in various vascular beds, (ii) the possible associations between the accumulation of microvascular TOD and CV risk and (iii) whether Galectin-3 represents a predictor of combined microvascular TOD. Methods: Participants underwent (i) evaluation of skin microvascular perfusion (laser speckle contrast analysis), (ii) fundoscopy (non-mydriatic fundus camera), (iii) indirect assessment of myocardial perfusion (subendocardial viability ratio) and (iv) determination of urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). CV risk was calculated using the QResearch Risk Estimator version 3 (QRISK3). Serum Galectin-3 levels were determined. Results: Forty-seven SLE patients and fifty controls were studied. SLE patients demonstrated impaired skin microvascular reactivity (160.2 ± 41.0 vs. 203.6 ± 40.1%), retinal arteriolar narrowing (88.1 ± 11.1 vs. 94.6 ± 13.5 μm) and higher UACR levels compared to controls. Furthermore, SLE individuals had significantly higher Galectin-3 levels [21.5(6.1) vs. 6.6(6.6) ng/dL], QRISK3 scores [7.0(8.6) vs. 1.3(3.6)%] and a greater chance for microvascular dysfunction. In the SLE group, patients with multiple TOD exhibited higher QRISK3. In the multivariate analysis, the accumulation of TOD correlated with disease activity and Galectin-3 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study showed for the first time that SLE patients exhibit a greater number of cases of TOD. The accumulation of TOD was associated with increased CV risk. Clinicians dealing with SLE should be aware and seek microvascular alterations.

Increased cardiovascular risk in Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based cohort study

To determine the increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to the general population in Korea. Using data from the National Health Insurance Service database spanning 2008 to 2018, incident SLE patients aged 18 years and above were selected along with a 1:4 age- and sex-matched control group. The crude incidence rate (IR) of MACE was calculated as the number of events per 1000 person-years and the IR ratio (IRR) for MACE was adjusted using generalized estimating equations. Subgroup analysis was conducted to evaluate the risk differences of overall MACE and its composites based on age and sex stratification. The study included 8568 SLE patients and 34,272 controls. The cumulative IR of MACE per 1000 person-years in SLE patients and controls were 4.08 and 1.30, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, SLE patients had a higher risk of MACE compared to the general population (adjusted IRR of 2.40 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.88-3.05]), with no gender differences observed. The increased risk of MACE in SLE patients was highest in the 18-39 age group (IRR 11.70, 95% CI 5.95-23.01) and gradually decreased with age. The increased risk of ischemic stroke (IRR 2.41, 95% CI 1.84-3.15) and myocardial infarction (IRR 2.19, 95% CI 1.30-3.68) in SLE patients was comparable. The risk of MACE in SLE patients is 2.40 times higher than that of the general population, with a higher relative risk observed in younger individuals.

Metabolic Modulators in Cardiovascular Complications of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial disorder with contributions from hormones, genetics, and the environment, predominantly affecting young women. Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of mortality in SLE, and hypertension is more prevalent among SLE patients. The dysregulation of both innate and adaptive immune cells in SLE, along with their infiltration into kidney and vascular tissues, is a pivotal factor contributing to the cardiovascular complications associated with SLE. The activation, proliferation, and differentiation of CD4+ T cells are intricately governed by cellular metabolism. Numerous metabolic inhibitors have been identified to target critical nodes in T cell metabolism. This review explores the existing evidence and knowledge gaps concerning whether the beneficial effects of metabolic modulators on autoimmunity, hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, and renal injury in lupus result from the restoration of a balanced immune system. The inhibition of glycolysis, mitochondrial metabolism, or mTORC1 has been found to improve endothelial dysfunction and prevent the development of hypertension in mouse models of SLE. Nevertheless, limited information is available regarding the potential vasculo-protective effects of drugs that act on immunometabolism in SLE patients.

Diagnostic challenge of tuberculosis in systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report and literature review

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection due to immune dysfunction and immunosuppressive therapy. We present a case study of a 40-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Initially, she was diagnosed with a lupus flare based on her clinical symptoms and laboratory results. However, upon further investigation, positive polymerase-chain reaction results for M. tuberculosis in the cerebrospinal fluid and lung parenchymal changes on chest computed tomography scan were indicative of TB infection. There was initial uncertainty regarding whether TB had triggered a flare-up of SLE or if TB was merely mimicking the symptoms of a SLE flare-up. However, as increasing the prednisolone dose did not have a positive effect and the patient's condition improved significantly with anti-TB treatment alone, it became clearer that the deterioration observed upon admission was primarily due to TB progression rather than an SLE flare-up. Additionally, we review the current literature on TB and SLE, including risk factors, diagnostic challenges, and treatment considerations, highlighting the importance of considering TB infection in patients with SLE who present with overlapping manifestations. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for improving outcomes in these patients.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS): a 20-year follow-up study

INTRODUCTION

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by a chronic grade of inflammation. Cardiovascular events represent the major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases; however, the significance and prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients with pSS remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical significance of cardiovascular disease in pSS and analyze the risk of cardiovascular disease according to glandular/extraglandular involvement and positivity to anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB autoantibodies.

METHODS

A retrospective study including patients diagnosed with pSS fulfilling the 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria was followed and evaluated in our outpatient clinic between 2000 and 2022. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors with pSS was evaluated, and a possible association with clinical and immunological characteristics, the treatments received, and the impact on cardiovascular disease were determined. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed in an attempt to determine potential risk factors associated with cardiovascular involvement.

RESULTS

A total of 102 pSS patients were included. Eighty-two percent were female, with a mean age of 65±24 years and a disease duration of 12.5 ±6 years. Thirty-six patients (36%) had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Arterial hypertension was diagnosed in 60 (59%) patients, dyslipidemia in 28 (27%), diabetes in 15 (15%), obesity in 22 (22%), and hyperuricemia in 19 (18%). History of arrhythmia was found in 25 (25%), conduction defects in 10 (10%), arterial peripheral vascular disease in 7 (7%), venous thrombosis in 10 (10%), coronary artery disease in 24 (24%), and cerebrovascular disease in 22 (22%) of patients. Patients with extraglandular involvement had a higher prevalence of arterial hypertension (p=0.04), dyslipidemia (p=0.003), LDL mean values (p=0.038), hyperuricemia (p=0.03), and coronary artery disease (p=0.01) after adjusting for age, sex, disease duration, and the significant variables in the univariate analysis. Patients with Ro/SSA and La/SSB autoantibodies had a substantially higher risk of hyperuricemia (p=0.01), arrhythmia (p=0.01), coronary artery disease (p=0.02), cerebrovascular disease (p=0.02), and venous thrombosis (p =0.03). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, higher odds of cardiovascular risk factors were associated with extraglandular involvement (p=0.02), treatment with corticosteroids (p=0.02), ESSDAI>13 (p=0.02), inflammatory markers including ESR levels (p 0.007), and serologic markers such as low C3 levels (p=0.03) and hypergammaglobulinemia (p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Extraglandular involvement was associated with a higher prevalence of arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, and coronary artery disease. Anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB seropositivity was associated with a higher prevalence of cardiac rhythm abnormalities, hyperuricemia, venous thrombosis, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Raised inflammatory markers, disease activity measured by ESSDAI, extraglandular involvement, serologic markers including hypergammaglobulinemia and low C3, and treatment with corticosteroids were associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular comorbidities. Key Points • Patients with pSS are vulnerable to cardiovascular risk factors. There is an interconnection between extraglandular involvement, disease activity, inflammatory markers, and cardiovascular risk comorbidities. • Anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB seropositivity was associated with a higher frequency of cardiac conduction abnormalities, coronary artery disease, venous thrombosis, and stroke. • Hypergammaglobulinemia, elevated ESR, and low C3 are associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities. • Valid risk stratification tools to help with prevention and consensus on the management of CVDs in pSS patients are warranted.

Cardiovascular Complications in Lupus Patients in the Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with high morbidity. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and types of cardiovascular complications among patients with SLE in the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia.

METHOD

This study is retrospective record-based research conducted at Aseer Central Hospital in the Aseer region from 2020 to 2022. We conducted a comprehensive review of the medical records of patients.

RESULTS

Out of the 189 patients diagnosed with SLE, 18.0% (34 out of 189) experienced cardiovascular complications. Of the patients who experienced cardiovascular complications, around two-fifths (15/34) fell between 35 and 44 years (44.12%), females represented (31/34) 91.20%, the majority were nonsmokers (32/34) 94.0%, (6/32) 17.65% were diabetic, (17/34) 50.0% had hypertension, and (13/34) 38.24% had vasculitis. Pericarditis and myocarditis are seen in (5/34) 14.7% of each of the cases, endocarditis accounts for (4/34) 11.7% of the cases, a myocardial infarction occurs in (7/34) 20.6% of patients, coronary artery disease is prevalent in (14/34) 38.2% of cases, and valvular lesions at (5/34) 14.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the prevalence of cardiovascular complications in SLE patients is crucial for healthcare providers to tailor treatment plans and preventive measures to address this aspect of the disease.

Cardiac wall rupture in systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report and review of the literature

Cardiac wall rupture (CWR) is a serious and often fatal complication of myocardial infarction (MI). Despite an increase in the incidence of MI in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cases of CWR in these patients have been reported rarely. This study reports an SLE patient with CWR and pseudoaneurysm formation and reviews previously reported cases of CWR in SLE patients. An English language literature review of from the PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases on published cases of CWR in SLE, up until January 2023, was performed and analyzed. The search identified 4 patients, including the present one, 5 cases altogether. All of them were female aged 27-40 years, and 3 of them had had SLE for 10 years or more. Chest pain and dyspnea were the common presentations. All had left ventricular (LV) wall rupture. Three patients had LV wall rupture with pseudoaneurysm formation (one had MI with normal coronary artery, one myocardial necrosis secondary from small coronary artery vasculitis and one MI from uncertain cause). The other 2 patients had LV free wall rupture (one had MI with extensive coronary atherosclerosis with coronary arteritis, and the other septic myocarditis with septic coronary arteritis) and these 2 patients died before the diagnosis was made. Three patients with pseudoaneurysm received surgical correction with good clinical outcomes in all. Cardiac wall rupture is a serious and often fatal cardiac complication. Emergency diagnosis and appropriate management with an experienced cardiology team is crucial. Surgical correction is the treatment of choice. Key Points • Cardiac wall rupture, a serious and often fatal cardiac complication, has rarely been described in SLE patients. • Emergency diagnosis and appropriate management with an experienced cardiology team is crucial. Surgical correction is the treatment of choice.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune condition characterized by multi-organ involvement. The clinical presentation often varies from mild to moderate to severe. The cardiovascular system may also be affected, often portending a poor prognosis for patients. Although the relationship between SLE and cardiovascular disorders has been extensively explored through case reports and literature reviews, few systematic reviews explicitly focusing on this association have been conducted. In light of this, this systematic review aims to analyze the extent of the association between SLE and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), by exploring the risk of developing CVDs, including myocardial infarction (MI), atherosclerosis, myocarditis, pericarditis and arrhythmias, in SLE patients vs. non-SLE patients. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to perform the systematic review. A detailed search was done covering the period from March 2003 to March 2023 using three databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane. The PubMed search identified 597 articles, while Google Scholar and Cochrane searches yielded 559 and three articles, respectively. Of the 1159 articles retrieved, we chose eight for final consideration, after excluding papers that did not discuss the role of SLE in CVDs, papers published earlier than 2003, and papers with incomplete data. The eight studies chosen included two narrative reviews, two systematic reviews, and four observational studies. In this systematic review, SLE was proven to have a strong relationship with diverse CVDs, including rare ones scarcely discussed in the literature, such as vasculitis and aortic dissection. All eight of the final papers indicated a connection between SLE and CVDs, based on the systematic analysis of these articles, which revealed that most recent research supports a higher risk of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), MI, pericarditis, myocarditis, and other cardiovascular disorders in individuals with SLE. These associations may have certain gray areas, as patient characteristics and comorbidities often affect the extent of illness and long-term prognosis. Larger-scale studies are required to probe this relationship further and research the etiopathogenesis involved in order to improve patient outcomes. The effects of SLE on the heart are, however, unequivocal.

Role of Altered Metabolism of Triglyceride-Rich Lipoprotein Particles in the Development of Vascular Dysfunction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: Impaired lipid metabolism contributes to accelerated inflammatory responses in addition to promoting the formation of atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We aimed to evaluate the lipid profile, inflammatory markers, and vascular diagnostic tests in active SLE patients to clarify the association between dyslipidemia and early vascular damage. Patients and Methods: 51 clinically active SLE patients and 41 age- and gender-matched control subjects were enrolled in the study. Lipoprotein subfractions were detected by Lipoprint. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and common carotid intima-media thickness were detected by ultrasonography. Arterial stiffness indicated by augmentation index (Aix) and pulse wave velocity was measured by arteriography. Results: We found significantly higher Aix, higher VLDL ratio, plasma triglyceride, ApoB100, and small HDL, as well as lower HDL-C, large HDL, and ApoA1 in patients with SLE. There was a significant positive correlation of Aix with triglyceride, VLDL, IDL-C, IDL-B, and LDL1. A backward stepwise multiple regression analysis showed IDL-C subfraction to be the best predictor of Aix. Conclusions: Our results indicate that in young patients with SLE, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins influence vascular function detected by Aix. These parameters may be assessed and integrated into the management plan for screening cardiovascular risk in patients with SLE.