SP185
INCIDENCE OF CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS AMONG MALE PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients with SLE have an excess risk compared with the general population. We analyzed the frequency of cardiovascular events and their relationship to selected risk factors in a cohort of SLE patients followed in a single clinical center.

METHODS: In this study, we present the results of retrospective follow-up of patients in a single center between 1979 and 2016. The studied population included 41 male patients fulfilling the ACR (American College of Rheumatology) criteria for SLE and having lupus nephritis.

RESULTS: The diagnosis of LN was made at a mean age of 32.170 ± 11.8 years (min 17, max 65) in this cohort. Cardiovascular events included myocardial infarctions, ischemic or thromboembolic cerebrovascular accidents, thromboembolic events and pericarditis. Cardiovascular disease during the course of SLE was noted in 8 patients. There were 2 pericarditis diagnosed during follow up, 3 coronary insufficiency, 4 thromboembolic events and 1 cerebrovascular event. The mean age of first CVD manifestation in the whole group was 28.3 years. Four patients had CVD in the first year of disease. The most common clinical presentation was nephrotic syndrome (5 patients) then hypertension (4 patients). Renal failure at the moment of diagnosis was found in 4 patients (eGFR less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m²). LN was of class II (2 cases), III (1 case), IV (2 cases) and V (3 cases). All our patients had lupus nephritis, which is considered a significant risk factor for premature atherogenesis. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, nephrotic syndrome, renal failure at the moment of diagnosis were significantly associated with cardiovascular complications.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SLE have a significantly increased risk for developing (CVD) at a younger age. Increased incidence of CVD in SLE is due to a combination of traditional and SLE-specific risk factors. Therefore, early detection and quantification of pathological changes are important for assessing the benefits of cardiovascular prevention in SLE management.