Serum ferritin, transferrin and metabolic syndrome are risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis in Egyptian women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

摘要

Aim of the workThis work aimed to measure serum ferritin and transferrin levels and to study the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Egyptian systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) females and to correlate them with disease activity, damage, clinical status and subclinical atherosclerosis.Patients and methodsThe study included 50 SLE female patients and 25 matched control. SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and damage index (DI) were assessed and the presence of MetS determined. Serum ferritin was measured by enhanced chemi-luminescence and the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was assessed by B-mode ultrasound.ResultsThe mean cIMT (0.71?±?0.14?mm) and ferritin (2098?±?132.99?ng/ml) were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (0.62?±?0.05?mm and 71.7?±?18.7?ng/ml; p?=?0.003 and p?