AB1100 ASSOCIATION OF ANTI-DOUBLE STRANDED DNA ANTIBODIES TITERS AND DISEASE ACTIVITY WITH ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENTS
Authors: N. Guajardo-Jauregui, D. A. Galarza-Delgado, J. R. Azpiri-Lopez, I. J. Colunga-Pedraza, J. A. Cardenas-de la Garza, R. I. Arvizu-Rivera
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease that consists on the deposition of immunocomplexes on vital organs, such as the heart. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of long-term mortality in SLE patients, and their increased risk of cardiovascular events is attributed to disease characteristics, such as the systemic inflammatory state associated with the disease. <h3>Objectives:</h3> We aimed to evaluate the association of disease characteristics, such as the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies (anti-dsDNA) titers, with echocardiographic parameters in SLE patients. <h3>Methods:</h3> This was a cross-sectional study. We recruited 75 SLE patients aged ≥18 years who fulfill the 2019 EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria for SLE. Patients with a previous cardiovascular event, another connective tissue disease or pregnancy were excluded. A transthoracic echocardiogram was performed by two certified echocardiographers blinded to clinical information. A blood sample was drawn to measure anti-dsDNA antibody titers and disease activity was evaluated with SLEDAI. Correlations were assessed with Spearman's correlation coefficient (rs). A <i>p</i>-value &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. <h3>Results:</h3> Median age of SLE patients was 37 (25-44) years with a median SLEDAI of 8.0 (4.0-12.0). The rest of demographic and clinical characteristics are shown in Table 1. We found a positive correlation between SLEDAI and left ventricular mass index (rs = 0.243, <i>p</i> = 0.036), between SLEDAI and the ratio between early mitral inflow velocity and mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E/e') (rs = 0.277, <i>p</i> = 0.016), and between SLEDAI and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) (rs = 0.271, <i>p</i> = 0.019). We also found a positive correlation between anti-dsDNA and left ventricular mass index (rs = 0.264, <i>p</i> = 0.022), between anti-dsDNA and E/e' (rs = 0.295, <i>p</i> = 0.010), and between anti-dsDNA and PASP (rs = 0.292, <i>p</i> = 0.011) (Figure 1). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> Our study demonstrated significant associations between higher SLEDAI and anti-dsDNA with increased left ventricular mass index, E/e' and PASP, which could lead to the development of ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, and pulmonary hypertension respectively, suggesting a potential role of disease activity and anti-dsDNA in the development of adverse cardiac remodeling and function in SLE patients. A transthoracic echocardiogram may be helpful to detect early cardiovascular abnormalities, especially in patients with high disease activity and anti-dsDNA titers, and therefore, should be considered as part of the cardiovascular evaluation of SLE patients. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>