| Objective:Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE)is a chronic,diffuse connective tissue disease that can affect multiple systems throughout the body.Although the prognosis of SLE has improved and survival has been prolonged in the face of increasing diagnostic standards and evolving treatment techniques,cardiovascular disease remains one of the most common complications and causes of death in the late stages of SLE patients.Homocysteine(Hcy)is a sulfur-containing amino acid,which belongs to an important class of intermediates in the metabolic cycle of cysteine and methionine.Homocysteine is related to atherosclerosis(AS)and hypertension(HT)in the general population.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE)is a chronic diffuse connectie tissue disease that can invade multiple systems throughout the body.Hypertension(HT)is one of the most common forms of cardiovascular disease.Arteriosclerosis(AS)is also one of the most common pathologies underlying cardiovascular disease.Homocysteine(Hcy)is a sulphur-containing amino acid that is an important intermediate in the metabolic cycle of cysteine and methionine,and is associated with atherosclerosis(AS)and hypertension(HT)in the general population.AS is a risk factor for HT,and HT can also cause AS.The two are causal and mutually reinforcing,forming a vicious circle.When blood pressure is too high,the impact of blood flow on the vessel walls damages the inner walls of the vessels,promoting the deposition of lipids in the blood on the damaged vessel walls and accelerating the onset and development of atherosclerosis.Conversely,The normal diastolic function of blood vessels is reduced after the onset of atherosclerosis,which increases the degree of hardening of the vessel walls and contributes to the rise in blood pressure.There is limited evidence on the effect of homocysteine on blood pressure and the degree of atherosclerosis in patients with SLE.The aim of our current study was to investigate whether plasma homocysteine correlates with hypertension and atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.Methods:A total of 100 SLE patients with no history of diabetes and no history of heart disease and 100 medical examiners with no history of SLE,no history of diabetes and no history of heart disease were included in this study for control.Participants’ homocysteine levels and degree of atherosclerosis were assessed by measuring homocysteine levels,carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity(cf PWV).Linear regression analysis was used to detect associations between plasma homocysteine,systolic blood pressure(SBp),carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity(cf PWV),and hypertension(HT).Results: Homocysteine levels were statistically higher in SLE patients(12.4±4.9umol/l)compared to blood homocysteine levels in controls(19.1±3.7umol/l)(p<0.001).cf PWV(7.57 ± 1.3m/s)was statistically higher in SLE compared to cf PWV(7.09 ± 1.1m/s)in the control group(p<0.05).SBp(120+12 mm Hg)was statistically higher in SLE patients compared to SBp(114±11 mm Hg)in the control group(p<0.05).Hhcy and HT rates in SLE were24% and 41% respectively,significantly higher than 7% and 13% in the control group(p<0.05).In pearson correlation coefficient,Homocysteine was positively correlated with SBp(r=0.351)and cf PWV(r=0.320)in patients with lupus(all P<0.05).In the multiple linear regression analysis,SBp is independently associated with homocysteine,carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity(cf PWV)and body mass index(BMI)in SLE.Similarly,in the logistic regression analysis,hyperhomocysteinemia、BMI and daily prednisone were independently associated with HT in man with SLE.Conclusion: In patients with SLE,plasma homocysteine levels are generally increased,the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia is higher than in the general population,and plasma homocysteine levels are independently associated with hypertension and atherosclerosis.Elevated plasma homocysteine levels may increase the risk of HT and AS in patients with SLE. |
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