Table 2 Factors influencing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in SLE patients
SLE-related factors | Effects |
|---|---|
TNF-alpha, MCP-1, IL-6, kidney disease | Dyslipidemia worsening, dysfunctional piHDL production |
ICAM, VEGF, vWF, VCAM overexpression | Pro-aggregation/pro-thrombotic behaviour |
Acute phase reactants elevation | Tissue damage |
INF-alpha elevation | Endothelial damage, pro-thrombotic behaviour |
Neutrophil extra-cellular traps | Vascular damage/pro-thrombotic behaviour |
IL-17, IL-12, IL-18 elevation, IgG overexpression | Pro-inflammatory |
Cystatin C | Early kidney damage marker, pro-inflammatory |
SS-A/SS-B positivity profile, photosensibility | Higher risk of CVD |
Medications | Effects |
Corticosteroids | Higher risk of CVD |
Antimalarial (OH-chloroquine) | Anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-dyslipidemic |
Mycophenolate mofetil | Lower immune activity in carotid plaque, protective |
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (atorvastatin) | Fewer autoantibodies and improvement of kidney function in animal models, to be confirmed in humans |
NSAIDs | Higher risk of CVD (less with naproxene) |