Lipid and lipoprotein levels in premenopausal systemic lupus erythematosuspatients

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dyslipoproteinemi a and to analyze the clinical variables that are associated with it in a sa mple of premenopausal systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. We studied 53 premenopausal (34.5y) SLE outpatients and 45 controls. Clinic al variables studied included patient age, weight, height. body mass index (BMI), age at disease onset, disease duration, clinical activity of SLE, re nal involvement and drug therapy. Total cholesterol (TC), high- and low-den sity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C), and triglycerides were meas ured using standard enzymatic techniques. Apolipoproteins (apo) A-I and B w ere determined by radial immunodiffusion. Twenty-nine patients (55%) and 14 controls (30%) had dyslipoproteinemia. An increase in TC. triglycerides, HDL3-C, apo A-I and apo B, and a decrease i n HDL2-C and HDL-C/TC index was found in SLE patients in comparison with co ntrols. TC (P=0.007), apo B (P=0.02), LDL-C (P=0.03) and triglycerides (P=0 .0001) were significantly correlated with proteinuria. Patients on predniso ne therapy had higher triglycerides levels (P=0.03) than untreated patients . TC (P=0.01), LDL-C (P=0.006) and triglycerides (P=0.04) were also correla ted with the dose of prednisone. Dyslipoproteinemia is a common feature in adult SLE premenopausal patients which is characterized by an increase in TC, triglycerides and apo B, and a n abnormal distribution of HDL subclasses. Corticosteroid therapy and prote inuria are the best predictors of dyslipoproteinemia in these patients.