OBJECTIVETo observe the prevalence and related risk factors of arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODSThe study population included 135 patients currently enrolled in the Chinese SLE Treatment and Research group registry (CSTAR). All traditional cardiovascular risk factors and SLE-related disease factors were collected on the day of the baPWV examination.

RESULTS(1)Significant differences were observed in age (P < 0.000) , family history of cardiovascular disease (P = 0.003), mean blood pressure (P = 0.000) and hemoglobin A1c (P = 0.023) between SLE patients with normal and abnormal arterial stiffness. In addition, SLE patients with abnormal arterial stiffness had lower creatinine clearance rates [85.9 (65.5-108.8) ml/min vs. 106.4 (86.8-124.6) ml/min, P = 0.011], longer disease and hydroxychloroquine duration (P = 0.002 and P = 0.022, respectively), and higher proportion of intravenous cyclophosphamide use (OR = 3.04, 95%CI:1.230-7.514, P = 0.013) as compared to patients with normal arterial stiffness. (2)After adjustment of all confounding factors, age (OR = 4.56, 95%CI: 1.863-11.133, P = 0.001), mean blood pressure (OR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.055-1.196, P = 0.000) , disease duration (OR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.050-1.367, P = 0.007) and the proportion of intravenous cyclophosphamide use (OR = 2.86, 95%CI: 1.364-5.979, P = 0.005) remained as independent risk factors for abnormal arterial stiffness in SLE patients.

CONCLUSIONBoth traditional cardiovascular risk factors and SLE-related factors are associated with the risk of increased arterial stiffness.