Progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus versus rheumatoid arthritis: the impact of low disease activity

Objectives. The progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE and RA has not been comparatively assessed. We sought to investigate the impact of low disease activity and other disease-related factors on atherosclerosis progression in SLE vs RA. Methods. We performed a 3-year follow-up carotid and femoral artery ultrasound in 101 patients with SLE, 85 with RA and 85 controls after a baseline examination in 115 SLE and 1:1 age- and gender-matched RA patients and controls. We used logistic regression to compare atherosclerosis progression (new plaque development) between SLE and RA vs controls, and assess determinants of progression in SLE patients with different lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) durations, adjusting for disease-related factors, antihypertensives, antiplatelets, statins and the Systemic Coronary Risk Evaluation 10-year cardiovascular risk. Results. The odds ratio (OR) of plaque progression vs controls was significantly higher in SLE (OR = 2.81, P = 0.043), but not in RA (OR = 2.22, P = 0.109). Results were similar in patients with low disease activity (88% of SLE, 74% of RA). Multivariate determinants of progression in SLE included antiphospholipid antibodies (OR = 2.00, P = 0.043) and Systemic Coronary Risk Evaluation (OR = 2.87, P = 0.019) for all patients, and additionally cumulative corticosteroid dose during follow-up (OR = 1.38, P = 0.013) and disease duration (OR = 1.20, P = 0.022) for patients in LLDAS over entire follow-up. Results were similar for patients with shorter LLDAS durations (>75% or >50% of follow-up). Conclusion. Plaque progression is accelerated in SLE regardless of disease activity, and is associated with antiphospholipid antibodies and the Systemic Coronary Risk Evaluation. In LLDAS, cumulative corticosteroid dose and disease duration are additional determinants of progression.