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A positive correlation between homocysteine and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

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Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with premature atherothrombotic complications. Hyperhomocysteinemia is considered a cardiovascular risk factor. Increased vascular stiffness may increase cardiovascular mortality. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a noninvasive method of analyzing vascular stiffness in the assessment of atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measurement in SLE. Plasma homocysteine, baPWV, ankle–brachial index, blood pressure, C3, C4, anticardiolipin antibody (aCL), and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies were determined in a total of 58 female patients with SLE. The control group comprised 32 age-matched healthy females. In addition, all patients were further classified into subgroups according to the presence of aCL (SLE/aCL+, n=27 vs SLE/aCL−, n=31) to determine the effect of aCL on the tested variables. The mean values for plasma homocysteine and baPWV were 13.19 μmol/l and 1,482 cm/s, respectively. Plasma homocysteine levels were significantly elevated in SLE patients when compared with the healthy controls. SLE patients with aCL had a significantly higher plasma homocysteine level than those without aCL. A significant positive correlation between plasma homocysteine and baPWV was found in patients with SLE (r=0.335, P=0.028, n=58). Plasma homocysteine also significantly correlated with right baPWV in all SLE patients (r=0.371, P=0.014, n=58) and in the SLE/aCL+ group (r=0.523, P=0.031, n=27). These findings indicate a possible link between plasma homocysteine and baPWV in SLE. In conclusion, SLE patients had an increased level of plasma homocysteine, and this phenomenon appeared to be related to vascular stiffness.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a research grant from Taichung Veterans General Hospital (TCVGH-913801A). The authors thank Ms. Ying-Ju Liao for her technical assistance in biochemical analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Food Science, Nutrition, and Nutraceutical Biotechnology, Shih Chien University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Tim K. Tso & Hui-Yu Huang

  2. Sport Science Research Center and Department of Sport Management, National Taiwan College of Physical Education, Taichung, Taiwan

    Chen-Kang Chang

  3. Department of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 160, Taichung Harbor Road, Section 3, Taichung, 407, Taiwan

    Wen-Nan Huang

  4. Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Wen-Nan Huang

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  1. Tim K. Tso
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Correspondence to Wen-Nan Huang.

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Tso, T.K., Huang, HY., Chang, CK. et al. A positive correlation between homocysteine and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Rheumatol 25, 285–290 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-005-0063-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-005-0063-7

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