Dyslipidemia in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus: the relationship with disease activity and plasma homocysteine and cysteine concentrations.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of dyslipidemia and plasma concentrations of homocysteine (Hcy) and cysteine (Cys) in adolescents with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and relate these findings to disease activity (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index, SLEDAI) and cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODS: A cross-sectional controlled study including 26 female adolescents with SLE and 26 healthy controls was conducted. We evaluated SLEDAI, medications, anthropometric data, dietary intake, lipid profile, proteinuria, Hcy, Cys, folic acid, vitamin B12, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels.

RESULTS: Dyslipidemia was observed in 46.2% of the patients and in 19.2% of the controls. The SLE group had a higher Cys concentration and a lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration compared with the controls. In the multivariate analysis only Hcy was significantly and independently associated with the presence of dyslipidemia in the juvenile SLE group; an increase of 1 μmol/l in the Hcy concentration doubled the chance of dyslipidemia (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1-4.9; p = 0.030). The Cys concentration was correlated with Hcy, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations.

CONCLUSION: We observed the presence of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents with juvenile SLE. The early identification of biochemical alterations allows the development of intervention strategies that may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.