Metabolic syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus was closely related to body mass index, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, and arthritis

Assessing the relation between systemic lupus erythematosus and metabolic syndrome in Syria: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) affects all organ systems. As a result, fat intake and sedentary life are evident in the modern world. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, with its components, increased, leading to increased mortality. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in SLE and its relationship with disease activity.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 70 SLE patients at Al Mouwasat University Hospitals in Damascus, Syria, between November 2021 and November 2022. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome. The SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) was assessed in each group and compared with different disease parameters.

RESULTS

Out of the 70 patients, 65 were females. The mean age was 32.19 ± 7.15 years, and the mean disease duration was 4.4 ± 2.96 years. Metabolic syndrome was found in 32 patients (45.7%). Metabolic syndrome in SLE patients was associated with a higher disease activity index, older age, delayed age at first diagnosis, longer disease duration, higher frequency of renal involvement, and use of cyclophosphamide.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights the importance of evaluating and treating metabolic syndrome and its components in patients with SLE, as it may play a role in controlling disease activity. We recommend conducting larger studies in the future to overcome the limitations of this research, such as including a larger number of patients, conducting multicenter studies to generalize the results, and including a healthy control group.

Potential Small Molecules for Therapy of Lupus Nephritis Based on Genetic Effect and Immune Infiltration

Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common and significant complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) due to its poor prognosis and mortality rates in SLE patients. There is a critical need for new drugs as the pathogenesis of LN remains to be elucidated and immunosuppressive therapy comes with many deficiencies. In this study, 23 hub genes (IFI6, PLSCR1, XAF1, IFI16, IFI44, MX1, IFI44L, IFIT3, IFIT2, IFI27, DDX58, EIF2AK2, IFITM1, RTP4, IFITM3, TRIM22, PARP12, IFIH1, OAS1, HERC6, RSAD2, DDX60, and MX2) were identified through bioinformatics and network analysis and are closely related to interferon production and function. Interestingly, immune cell infiltration analysis and correlation analysis demonstrate a positive correlation between the expression of 23 hub genes and monocyte infiltration in glomeruli and M2 macrophage infiltration in the tubulointerstitium of LN patients. Additionally, the CTD database, DsigDB database, and DREIMT database were used to explore the bridging role of genes in chemicals and LN as well as the potential influence of these chemicals on immune cells. After comparison and discussion, six small molecules (Acetohexamide, Suloctidil, Terfenadine, Prochlorperazine, Mefloquine, and Triprolidine) were selected for their potential ability in treating lupus nephritis.

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus face a high risk of cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have increased mortality related to cardiovascular disease (CVD). This systematic review and meta-analysis identified the risk of CVD in SLE patients, CVD risk factors in SLE patients, and the risk of CVD in lupus nephritis (LN) patients.

METHODS

On-line databases were used to search the eligible studies from January 2013 to August 2020. The relevant characteristics and the data of disease extracted from included publications.

RESULTS

A total of 20 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with the general or healthy population, the risk of CVD in SLE patients increased by 2 times (RR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.95-2.84, P < 0.05). SLE patients had a significantly increased risk of atherosclerosis (RR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.16-4.60), stroke (RR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.52-3.50), myocardial infarction (RR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.97-3.59), peripheral vascular disease (RR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.07-6.09) and heart failure (RR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.63-5.13), but no significant increased risk of coronary artery disease (RR = 1.93, 95% CI: 0.67-5.59). SLE patients were more susceptible to lead hypertension than general or healthy population (RR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.62-3.29). Compared with the SLE patients, the risk of CVD in LN patients was increased by 2 times (RR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.13-2.70).

CONCLUSION

The results of this meta-analysis suggest that SLE patients have a higher risk of developing CVD compared with the general or healthy population, and the risk of CVD in LN patients is significantly higher than that in SLE patients.