Traditional CV Risk Models May Fall Short in Lupus

January 16, 2019

While traditional risk factors play a role, factors specific to SLE also contribute to CVD.

Haque and colleagues in the UK found that traditional risk models for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be inadequate in higher-risk populations yet to be identified. The authors suggest that patients who are receiving immunosuppressants or who are positive for anticardiolipin antibodies may represent a higher-risk cohort.¹ Scroll through the slides for the details of the study and the take-home points for clinicians.

CV, cardiovascular; CVD, cardiovascular disease; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.

It remains unclear what factors cause progression of atherosclerosis in SLE, which makes it difficult to risk-stratify patients.

CIMT, carotid intima-media thickness; CVD, cardiovascular disease; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.

CVD, cardiovascular disease.

CV, cardiovascular; CVD, cardiovascular disease; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.

The wide range of factors described in previous research coupled with these results emphasizes the need for better risk-stratification models for patients with SLE.

CV, cardiovascular; CVD, cardiovascular disease; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.