Pentraxin 3 is associated with disease activity but not atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

• Published in: Modern rheumatology Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 78 - 85
• Main Authors: Shimada, Yuki, Asanuma, Yu Funakubo, Yokota, Kazuhiro, Yoshida, Yoshihiro, Kajiyama, Hiroshi, Sato, Kojiro, Akiyama, Yuji, Mimura, Toshihide
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Informa Healthcare 01.01.2014; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adult; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis - blood; Atherosclerosis - complications; Atherosclerosis - diagnostic imaging; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Carotid Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery Diseases - blood; Carotid Artery Diseases - complications; Carotid Artery Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Correlation analysis; Disease activity; Female; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammatory diseases; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - blood; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - complications; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Pentraxin 3; Plasma; Serum Amyloid P-Component - metabolism; Severity of Illness Index; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 1439-7595; 1439-7609
• DOI: 10.3109/14397595.2013.852837

Abstract Objectives Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) plays an important role in inflammation, immunity, and atherosclerosis. Plasma PTX3 level has drawn attention as a marker that responds to local inflammation. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic inflammatory disorder which can affect multiple organs, develops atherosclerosis prematurely. We examined the hypotheses that the concentration of plasma PTX3 increases in patients with SLE and that PTX3 is associated with the disease activity and premature atherosclerosis. Methods Plasma PTX3 concentrations were measured in 65 patients with SLE and 53 control subjects. The patients were also evaluated with respect to their clinical characteristics, disease activity indices, and corticosteroid therapy. We performed carotid ultrasonography to measure subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with SLE. Results Plasma PTX3 concentration of the SLE patients was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls (median 3.9 vs. 2.0 ng/mL, p < 0.001). In patients with SLE, PTX3 concentrations were correlated with SLEDAI (p = 0.011), BILAG index (p < 0.001), C-reactive protein (p < 0.001), anemia (p = 0.020), hypoalbuminemia (p = 0.022), and daily dose of prednisolone (p = 0.008) after adjustment for age and sex. PTX3 was not associated with disease duration, anti-ds DNA antibody, CH50, or carotid atherosclerosis. Conclusions Patients with SLE have increased concentrations of PTX3 compared with control subjects. PTX3 was significantly associated with disease activity but not with carotid atherosclerosis.