RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Genetically Determined Serum Levels of Mannose-Binding Lectin Correlate Negatively with Common Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 1815 OP 1821 DO 10.3899/jrheum.100158 VO 37 IS 9 A1 LONE N. TROELSEN A1 PETER GARRED A1 BURIS CHRISTIANSEN A1 CHRISTIAN TORP-PEDERSEN A1 SØREN JACOBSEN YR 2010 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/37/9/1815.abstract AB Objective. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality due to accelerated atherosclerosis that cannot be attributed to traditional cardiovascular risk factors alone. Variant alleles of the mannose-binding lectin gene (MBL2) causing low serum concentrations of functional mannose-binding lectin (MBL) are associated with SLE and development of atherosclerosis. Recent studies show that these variant alleles are associated with increased risk of arterial thrombosis and cardiovascular disease in patients with SLE. Intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (ccIMT) is a validated noninvasive anatomic measure of subclinical atherosclerosis. In a cross-sectional study we examined the relation among ccIMT, MBL2 genotypes, and serum concentrations of MBL. Methods. The MBL2 extended genotypes (YA/YA, YA/XA, XA/XA, YA/YO, XA/YO, YO/YO) and serum concentrations of MBL were determined in 41 outpatients with SLE. ccIMT was measured by means of ultrasonography. Traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk modifiers were assessed and controlled for. Results. Using nonparametric Mann-Whitney tests we found a significant difference in ccIMT between low-expressing (XA/XA+YA/YO+XA/YO+YO/YO) and high-expressing (YA/YA+YA/XA) MBL2 genotypes (p = 0.034). The difference in ccIMT remained significant in multivariable analysis adjusting for traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk modifiers (p = 0.049). ccIMT was negatively correlated to serum concentrations of MBL (Spearman rho = −0.33, p = 0.037). This relation also remained significant in multivariable analysis (p = 0.042). Conclusion. In this group of SLE patients, MBL2 low-expressing genotypes and low serum levels of MBL were correlated with ccIMT, independent of the effects of traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk modifiers.