Dataset Information

Plasma osteopontin versus intima media thickness of the common carotid arteries in well-characterised patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The progress of accelerated atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is incompletely understood. Circulating osteopontin (OPN) is increased in autoimmune conditions, e.g. SLE, and its serum concentration was recently reported to associate with subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE, as measured by carotid intima-media thickness. The aim of this study was to investigate whether OPN may be used as a surrogate biomarker of subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE patients with different disease phenotypes.

Methods

We recruited 60 well-characterised SLE cases and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The SLE cases were divided into three different disease phenotypes: SLE with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), lupus nephritis, and isolated skin and joint involvement. Plasma OPN was detected by ELISA (Quantikine®, R&D Systems). Common carotid arteries intima media thickness was compared between the studied groups in relation to OPN levels and risk factors for vascular changes. Intima media thickness of common carotid arteries was measured by using a sensitive ultrasound technique (LOGIQ™ E9 ultrasound, GE Healthcare).

Results

OPN levels were significantly higher among the entire SLE group (n = 60) compared to the healthy controls (P = 0.03). SLE cases with concomitant APS (n = 20) showed higher OPN levels than the controls (P = 0.004), whereas none of the other two subgroups differed significantly from the healthy controls. OPN and intima media thickness were correlated to several traditional risk factors of atherosclerosis, as well as to SLE-related factors. Yet, no significant correlation was observed between OPN levels and ultrasound findings of the common carotid arteries.

Conclusions

In line with previous studies, we observed increased OPN levels among SLE patients as compared to matched controls. However, the OPN concentrations did not correlate with intima media thickness of the common carotid arteries. Based on our findings, the use of OPN as a surrogate biomarker of subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE subjects, regardless of clinical phenotypes, cannot be recommended.

SUBMITTER: Wirestam L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8209759 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundIntima-media thickness of the walls of the common carotid artery and internal carotid artery may add to the Framingham risk score for predicting cardiovascular events.MethodsWe measured the mean intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery and the maximum intima-media thickness of the internal carotid artery in 2965 members of the Framingham Offspring Study cohort. Cardiovascular-disease outcomes were evaluated for an average follow-up of 7.2 years. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models were generated for intima-media thickness and risk factors. We evaluated the reclassification of cardiovascular disease on the basis of the 8-year Framingham risk score category (low, intermediate, or high) after adding intima-media thickness values.ResultsA total of 296 participants had a cardiovascular event. The risk factors of the Framingham risk score predicted these events, with a C statistic of 0.748 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.719 to 0.776). The adjusted hazard ratio for cardiovascular disease with a 1-SD increase in the mean intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery was 1.13 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.24), with a nonsignificant change in the C statistic of 0.003 (95% CI, 0.000 to 0.007); the corresponding hazard ratio for the maximum intima-media thickness of the internal carotid artery was 1.21 (95% CI, 1.13 to 1.29), with a modest increase in the C statistic of 0.009 (95% CI, 0.003 to 0.016). The net reclassification index increased significantly after addition of intima-media thickness of the internal carotid artery (7.6%, P<0.001) but not intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (0.0%, P=0.99). With the presence of plaque, defined as intima-media thickness of the internal carotid artery of more than 1.5 mm, the net reclassification index was 7.3% (P=0.01), with an increase in the C statistic of 0.014 (95% CI, 0.003 to 0.025).ConclusionsThe maximum internal and mean common carotid-artery intima-media thicknesses both predict cardiovascular outcomes, but only the maximum intima-media thickness of (and presence of plaque in) the internal carotid artery significantly (albeit modestly) improves the classification of risk of cardiovascular disease in the Framingham Offspring Study cohort. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.).