OBJECTIVES: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease of multisystemic involvement. The cardiac and cerebrovascular systems are one of the more commonly involved systems, owing to advanced atherosclerosis in SLE. Risk factors for the development of vascular events in SLE were analyzed in this study. 

METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control analysis of SLE patients admitted in a tertiary hospital in the year 2008. Data were subjected to logistic regression analysis using SPSS v.16.

RESULTS:  Seventy-six charts were retrieved and reviewed. The composite vascular event rate in this cohort was 7.6%. Disease duration and thrombocytopenia were associated with increased risk of vascular events. None of the other traditional risk factors were found to correlate with vascular events in this cohort analysis. Statins showed a trend towards protection against vascular events, however, this was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: SLE patients with longer disease duration and have thrombocytopenia are at risk of developing vascular events. Lupus patients may be considered a high-risk group for atherosclerosis and may benefit from statin therapy. traditional risk factors, however, cannot fully account for advanced atherosclerosis seen in SLE patients. Various inflammatory and immunologic factors play a role and warrant further investigation.