AB1089 CORRELATION OF AUTOANTIBODIES AND PERICARDITIS IN SLE PATIENTS
Authors: A. Zoto, V. Salko, E. Rapushi, T. Backa
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> Pericarditis is a common cardiac manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Serositis is recognized in ACR,SLICC and EULAR/ACR classification criteria of SLE. Serositis can manifest as pleuritis,pericarditis or peritonitis. The incidence of pericarditis in SLE patients has widely ranged in the literature between 11-54%.The main cause of this variation in reported data is the difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic pericardial involvement.Different studies have identified risk factors for pericarditis occurrence in SLE patients. They found that hemolytic anemia, proteinuria, lymphadenopathy,fever,Raynaud's phenomenon,anti-DNA and anti-Smith (anti-Sm) antibodies were associated with pericarditis. Male gender and younger age at diagnosis have been associated with elevated risk of serositis and pericarditis.Serositis was more commonly seen with lupus nephritis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hypocomplementemia.New data suggest that low level of vitamin D was associated with pericarditis in SLE.Regarding autoantibodies beside anti-Sm and anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) other research has linked anti-Jo1 and anti-ribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP) to serositis/pericarditis.Pediatric studies in SLE patients found a predisposition to serositis with antibodies to anti-chromatin,anti-ribosomal P and anti-La, in addition to anti-RNP, anti-Sm, anti-dsDNA and anti-Ro. <h3>Objectives:</h3> To evaluate a possible correlation of specific autoantibodies and pericarditis in SLE hospitalized patients in Albania <h3>Methods:</h3> 85 patients diagnosed with SLE according to EULAR/ACR classification criteria are involved in this study. Their diagnosis is established in UHC Mother Theresa(hospitalization) and follow up is made in the same center(re-hospitalization or ambulatory). Age, gender, duration of disease, SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2k),laboratory findings(more specifically immunologic tests),cardiac examinations(cardiac echography in particular) and all used treatments were analyzed. Patients with co-morbidities were excluded. <h3>Results:</h3> Out of 85 patients,80%(68 patients) were female and mean age(±SD) 41(±5.4)y.o.Mean duration of the disease at the moment of involvement at the study was 11(± 4.3) years.Approximately 70%(60 patients) of our patient had proteinuria(&gt;0.5 g/24 h) in urinalysis.Mean SLEDAI-2k score was 9(±2).Regarding autoantibodies anti- DNA resulted positive in 52% and anti- SM at 39% of patients included in this study.After complete cardiac evaluation of all patients with clinical examination, ECG and cardiac ecography,pericarditis was present at 41%(35 patients) of cases.All the patients with pericarditis had SLEDAI-2k higher than 9. 28 patients with pericarditis resulted positive for anti-DNA and anti-Sm antibodies. 31 patients resulted positive only for anti-DNA antibodies. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> A very significant association is observed between anti-DNA,anti-Sm antibodies and pericarditis in SLE patients. All the patients with the presence of this antibodies and pericarditis had moderate/high SLEDAI-2k score. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>